Ryan Tverberg records three points, Marlies force winner take all Game 5 in Cleveland

The Toronto Marlies live to see another day.

Facing elimination on Friday night, the Marlies rallied for a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Monsters to ensure a winner-take-all Game 5 on Sunday in Cleveland. Led by Ryan Tverberg, who recorded two goals and one assist, the Marlies got their offence back on track after being held to one goal or fewer over the past two games of the series.

Tverberg opened the game’s scoring on the power play, snapping a wrist shot past Monsters goaltender Zach Sawchenko to give the Marlies the game’s opening goal for the first time in the series. Tverberg has put together a strong postseason as he attempts to prove that he could fit on the Maple Leafs’ roster next season.

“We just stuck to our game plan and executed more on what we have been trying to do. We got pucks in, stayed above them and limited their chances,” Tverberg said post-game.

The 24-year-old has recorded five goals and three assists over 12 playoff games, following up a regular season in which he posted a career-high 36 points across 63 games played. Tverberg’s successful season earned him a call-up to the NHL. The former seventh-round draft pick appeared in two games and finished with a plus-one rating. Tverberg will be a restricted free agent this summer and is likely due for a raise after this year’s strong showing.

After Alex Nylander and Henry Thrun both scored to extend the Marlies’ lead to three, forward Jacob Quillan buried his first goal of the playoffs. Quillan received a pass from Ben Danford and surged into the Monsters’ zone, ripping a wrist-shot past Sawchenko to give the Marlies a 4-0 lead with 7:07 left to play. The assist was Danford’s first point at the professional level. The 2024 first-round draft pick has appeared in four games with the Marlies after wrapping up his OHL career following Hamilton Bulldogs’ Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Barrie Colts.

Quillan appeared in 23 games with the Maple Leafs this season, recording one goal and two assists, before returning to the Marlies for their postseason run. With the Marlies during the 2025-26 season, Quillan picked up 36 points over 40 games, so the 24-year-old was expected to be leaned on as a key contributor. While Quillan only has five points to through 12 games, the goal on Friday could be the confidence boost he needed to get going.

“You want to help your team win, and scoring does that, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way, and you just have to keep fighting through it,” Quillan said. “I feel like my play hasn’t been too good. I think today was a better example of what I have to offer, but I’m just going to keep getting better and keep helping the team win anyway I can.”

Tverberg popped his second of the night into an empty net, ensuring Artur Akhtyamov’s 36-save effort didn’t go to waste. The 24-year-old has been a major force on the Marlies’ playoff run, and has turned in a record of 6-4-1, a goals-against average of 2.20 and a save percentage of 0.922.

Game 5 is on Sunday, May 24. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. EST at Rocket Arena.

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