Toronto Marlies slip to third consecutive defeat after another slow start in Grand Rapids

""In the first 10 minutes, again, we didn't match their intensity... We can make excuses all we want - having younger defenseman in there and so forth - but I don't think they were the issue. I just didn't think we matched their intensity or were ready to go at the start. You can't spot a really good team, on their home ice, a 2-0 lead, and expect to come back from it all the time. It has to be addressed.""

""The tone was set 70 seconds in when Bo Groulx turned over possession in the defensive zone, forcing Vyacheslav Peksa into a brilliant save on John Loenard on the doorstep. Chas Sharpe, starting to find his feet at the AHL level, made a good read to break up an odd-man rush at the four-minute mark. Grand Rapids' intensity overwhelmed Toronto less than 60 seconds later. Leonard saw his shot from the hashmarks blocked, and from the same position, Amadeus Lombardi rang a shot off the post before Peksa got a hold of the puck. Tyler Angle won the ensuing faceoff, and Eduards Tralmaks sniped home from just above the hashmarks.""

""Peksa wasn't flustered by the early goal against, making solid saves on Carson Bantle and Leonard from the slot. Opportunities for Toronto were few and far between, but the Logan Shaw misplayed a 3v2 situation on a rare odd-man rush for the Marlies could have gotten on the board if they were more clinical. Marlies. With three minutes remaining, Cade Webber shot wide by design, and the puck bounced off the back wall and out the other side to Groulx. On the doorstep, with Carter Gylander on the move, the veteran forward couldn't bury the best chance of the period for Toronto.""

Toronto began the game sluggishly, surrendering momentum and an early goal after a turnover 70 seconds in. Grand Rapids pushed intensity, generating blocked shots, post hits and a faceoff win that led to a goal by Eduards Tralmaks. Vyacheslav Peksa made several key saves to limit damage, but Toronto produced few high-quality scoring chances. A misplayed 3-on-2 and a missed doorstep opportunity illustrated a lack of clinical finishing. The early two-goal cushion for Grand Rapids forced Toronto to chase the game and highlighted recurring issues with slow starts and inconsistent intensity.

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