After 11 days out of game action, the Marlies looked a little rusty before returning to their old selves in Game 1 against the Utica Comets.
It wasn’t the best start for Toronto as they began the game looking like that exact team that hasn’t played a game in over a week and a half. Utica began the game scoring three-straight goals — two in the first, one in the second — to go up 3-0.
It looked like it was out of reach at that point for Toronto. But inside the Marlies’ dressing room, that’s not what the they thought.
Just three-and-a-half minutes after Utica found the back of the net for the third time on Thursday, Toronto answered back with a goal of their own.
Marc Johnstone finds Pontus Holmberg with a great pass and he puts it past Nico Daws.#Marlies cut Utica’s lead to 3-1. pic.twitter.com/lmZTm1gfMe
— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 28, 2023
Pontus Holmberg, a player who looked destined to remain on the Maple Leafs earlier this season, got the Marlies on the board. But it was a slick pass from Marc Johnstone which created the opportunity for Holmberg to find the back of the net.
1:17 later, Topi Niemela found the back of the net, beating Nico Daws over his left shoulder, to cut Utica’s lead to only one goal.
Nick Abruzzese spots Topi Niemela trailing and gets him the puck. He makes no mistake, beating Nico Daws for his first of the playoffs.#Marlies score two goals in 1:17 and now trail Utica 3-2. pic.twitter.com/czd6id4LIG
— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) April 28, 2023
Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation
