The Toronto Marlies fell on Tuesday night 4-0, dropping Game 4 of the Best-of-5 North Division semifinals to the Laval Rocket.
The Marlies were severely outplayed, getting outshot 32-18 as the Rocket kept their season alive. Former Toronto Maple Leafs and current Rocket forward Samuel Blais recorded two goals in the win, while Kaapo Kähkönen picked up the shutout.
Blais appeared in eight games with the Maple Leafs this season, totalling one goal and two assists. The stretch spanned between October 29 and November 22, with Blais scoring in his debut with the club during a 6-3 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Alex Belzile opened the game’s scoring before Blais recorded the next two tallies. Former Arizona Coyotes 2013 second-round draft pick, Laurent Dauphin, effectively put the game out of reach with a short-handed goal at 2:36 of the third period. Dauphin finished second on the Rocket in points with 59 and currently leads them through the Calder Cup playoffs with six in four games.
The Marlies started goaltender Artur Akhtyamov for the third straight game, but turned to Dennis Hildeby to begin the third period after Akhtyamov allowed three goals on 25 shots. Hildeby entered and stopped 7-of-8 shots, in what was his first game action since Game 1, when he allowed two goals on 25 shots, picking up the loss in a 3-1 Laval win.
Marlies head coach John Gruden will have a decision to make prior to Saturday’s contest. Through five games, Akhtyamov is 3-2-0 with a 2.17 goals-against average and a 0.919 save percentage, while Hildeby has appeared in three games, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 2.17 GAA and 0.921 SV%.
“We’re extremely fortunate to have two great goalies. If Dennis has to come in, he’s unbelievable too, so we are very fortunate,” Villeneuve said.
Tempers started to flare late in the third period on Tuesday, with seven skaters receiving misconducts, including Vinni Lettieri, Marc Johnstone, and Michael Pezzetta on the Marlies’ side.
A Game 5, winner-take-all, is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Laval at Place Bell. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. EST.
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