The Toronto Marlies are on the verge of capturing the Calder Cup after a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The win gives the Marlies a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 set for Thursday night at home. If necessary, Game 5 would also be played on home ice Friday.
Solid Mix of Veterans and Youth
The Marlies' only previous Calder Cup championship came in 2018, featuring future Maple Leafs such as Andreas Johnsson, Trevor Moore, and Justin Holl. This year's squad blends experienced veterans like Vinni Lettieri, captain Logan Shaw, and Dakota Mermis with promising youngsters including Artur Akhtyamov, Easton Cowan, and Ben Danford.
Akhtyamov and Cowan each made significant contributions in Game 3. Akhtyamov, making his 18th consecutive start, recorded 24 saves for his second shutout of the postseason. His most critical stop came with six minutes remaining, denying Wolves forward Noah Philp from point-blank range. Cowan, who was a persistent threat around the Chicago net, scored his eighth goal of the playoffs in the second period.
Positive Sign for the Organization
Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka, who was hired in May after the Marlies roster was assembled, expressed satisfaction with the team's success. "Any time as a manager you get some wins that you have nothing to do with, that's always a good thing," Chayka said during a Zoom call Tuesday. "Certainly the Marlies' success is something that GM Ryan Hardy and his team and coach John Gruden and their staff have bred over the course of several seasons."
Chayka emphasized the developmental value of winning. "Winning is the best development, and the teams that have won have historically been able to move players up at a higher rate, so the fact that they're sitting where they're at, it's a good sign for the organization." Cowan is likely playing his last AHL games before a permanent NHL promotion, barring a future conditioning stint.
Cowan Comes Through
Cowan's goal at 2:47 of the second period came on a quick shot from the faceoff circle that squeezed through Wolves goaltender Cayden Primeau. The Marlies dominated the second period, energizing the home crowd. Chicago outshot Toronto 13-5 in a scoreless first period, but Akhtyamov made several tough saves, including stops on Noel Gunler and Nikita Pavlychev, after defensive-zone turnovers.
Any hope for the Wolves faded with 4:34 left in the third period when Pavlychev received a major penalty for charging on Marlies defenseman Henry Thrun. Jacob Quillan returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury, centering a line with Cowan and Ryan Tverberg.
