The Toronto Marlies initially dominated their game, leading 4-1 after the first period against one of the weakest teams in AHL history. However, they lost their intensity and structure, allowing their opponent to stage a comeback, indicative of fatigue from a busy schedule. This performance highlighted the team's struggles, especially given their precarious playoff situation. Coach John Gruden expressed disappointment in the players' lack of effort after a strong start, emphasizing the critical need for consistent performance in future games to maintain playoff hopes.
"We were playing so well for the first 30 minutes. We got away from our structure. We had individual breakdowns and got beat one-on-one."
"Maybe the three-in-three situation led to fatigue, but the Marlies team that had won two of its previous six games and has by no means secured a playoff berth became complacent."
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