The Toronto Marlies joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in having their playoff run end early.
On Friday, May 12th, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-2 to the Florida Panthers in Game 5. The loss ended the Maple Leafs’ 2022-23 season.
On Wednesday, May 17th, the Marlies season ended with an 8-4 loss to the Rochester Americans in Game 3 of their best-of-five series.
On Friday, in conjunction with the Leafs firing Kyle Dubas, the Toronto Marlies also let their entire coaching staff go, including head coach Greg Moore.
Toronto Maple Leafs Make Major Changes
The Toronto Maple Leafs organization is not all doom and gloom. The Newfoundland Growlers are in the ECHL Eastern Conference Final in their quest to win the Kelly Cup. The Growlers were the 2019 Kelly Cup champions, and they’d like to win it again. First, they need to get past the Florida Everblades. The Everblades are the defending Kelly Cup champions.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marlies make changes within their front offices and coaching staff, the Growlers will be looking to make the organization proud. The Growlers’ best-of-seven series with the Everblades begins on May 19th and ends on May 31st if a Game 7 is required.
Leading the way for the Growlers is goaltender Dryden McKay. Through ten playoff games, McKay has an 8-1-0 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .914 SV% with two shutouts.
McKay was signed to a two-year AHL contract on April 25th, 2022. With Joseph Woll challenging for an NHL job next season, McKay will be challenging for a spot with the Marlies in the AHL. First, he’s going to try and help the Growlers’ win their second Kelly Cup in five seasons.
(Stats from eliteprospects.com)
Other standouts in the Growlers’ lineup are forwards Isaac Johnson, Pavel Gogolev, and defenseman Jonny Tychonick. Johnson has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in nine games. Gogolev has five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 10 games. Tychonick has 12 assists in nine games.