""That's a really good team (Charlotte). They play with a lot of pace. They have a lot of big, strong guys, and we weren't able to match their intensity. We weren't predictable enough early on. They set the tone from the get-go. It's not good enough. I'm not going to make any excuses. We've got to find a way to be better.""
"Charlotte out-chanced and outshot Toronto through the opening frame, and t he Marlies were quickly grateful to Artur Akhtyamov for a brilliant double save to rob Ben Steeves. The lesson wasn't heeded, however. Two minutes later, as Marlies collapsed toward their own net, Riese Gaber had the time and space to score top-shelf. Akhtyamov made another outstanding double save on Jake Livingstone before Toronto tied the game at the midway point of the period."
"Bo Groulx won an offensive-zone faceoff back to Blake Smith at the point. The rookie defenseman sent the puck down low to Vinni Lettieri, who delivered a seeing-eye pass through the blue paint to Groulx at the back post. It was Toronto's second shot of the game. Akhtyamov continued to keep Toronto in the game by turning aside another two Grade-A chances for the Checkers. Against the run of play, Toronto almost snatched a go-ahead goal."
Charlotte dominated the opening frame by out-chancing and outshooting Toronto, forcing Artur Akhtyamov into several brilliant double saves to keep the score level. Riese Gaber capitalized on a Marlies collapse to score top-shelf, but Toronto tied the game after Bo Groulx won a faceoff and Vinni Lettieri fed Groulx at the back post. Toronto generated rare chances—Jacob Quillan missed a tap-in and later assisted on a power play chance that Matthew Barbolini shot wide. The Marlies turned the puck over in the defensive zone, struggled with predictability and intensity, and invited sustained pressure late in the period.
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