I wake up this morning, and I remember something awesome – the Marlies schedule goes back to Normality starting today! As in, they play more often than once in 11 days! So naturally, I get ready to get some previews together, and I see the teams that they’re facing this weekend and…. REALLY?
Lake Erie again. Hamilton again. Rochester again. Look, I know there’s an emphasis on playing against your divisional opponents, but come on. If you’re wondering why my previews look more and more “meh, whatever, gotta get something up” – it’s because, no word of lie, 52 out of 76 games are against one of Hamilton, Lake Erie, Rochester, Grand Rapids, St. John’s, or Abbotsford. That’s not even an exaggeration. After that, they play a whopping 12 other teams in the league for the other 24 games, in a home and home in all cases. Check this out:
If you’re cool (and have a Tumblr0, you’ll click the pic, and reblog it?
I get that there’s an emphasis on playing your division…but half the games? Throw in Abbotsford, who has 4 against the Marlies this year and aren’t in the division any more. Even worse, lets look at the IceCaps. Yes, I know the Marlies used to play in St. Johns, but that was a really cool home and home story. Not a “Hey, they’re not in the division, they’re not even in the conference, and the distance of this flight is unbearable. Lets play them eight times! scenario. I understand that matchups breed rivalries, but can the matchups be ones that actually make sense? If the Marlies have to face a team that plays out of the conference eight times a year, can it be Binghamton or Providence? AKA, teams who’s parent clubs are in the Leafs division?
Maybe I’m just crazy – but I like my matchups to make sense. If it was up to me, The Marlies would face every team in the league at least once (preferably home-and-home), then divide the rest of the games accordingly along the Division, Binghamton, and Providence. I’d also try to line up double games on weekends – 3PM AHL, 7PM NHL, with the matching parent club. I like how the schedule leans towards weekends, but I just feel team choices could be better selected.
Though I will change one thing about that weekend statement – Ryan Hamilton probably kind of hates whoever made this schedule right now. He has Lake Erie tonight, Hamilton tomorrow, Rochester Friday, Skills Competition on Saturday, and the All Star Game on Sunday. I wonder if this is why Colborne dropped out..
As I say in the title, the Toronto Marlies look like the kid who doesn’t have a lot of friends, so he goes to his closest ones and bugs them non-stop to hang out, which eventually leads to both sides quickly getting irritated with each other. Which is great for some of those who are watching it all go down from the sidelines, but even the spectators get bored of it.
That said, you’re still here hoping to hear a bit about tonight’s game? If you insist…
Thursday, @ Lake Erie – The Monsters have been a team that are on a massive down swing as of late. Around the time of the last wave of games the Marlies had against them, Lake Erie looked to be the only remotely significant threat for the North Division. This time around? They’re dead last, with a 19-21-2-1 record, including a weak 3-6-1-0 in their past 10. You can’t totally discount them though, seeing how they step up against the Marlies, but it’s not the matchup it was even weeks ago. Young gun defenceman Tyson Barrie leads the team in points, with 26 in 43 games. Hugh “Huge Speciman” Jessiman has the goal scoring crow, with 20, but matches that up with just 5 assists. Marlies killer David Van Der Gulik has been up with the Avalanche for the past 17 games, so he won’t be in site. Closer to literal Marlies killer Patrick Bordeleau, who ended Matt Lashoff’s season, will likely play. Cedrick Desjardins, who’s been spectacular since returning from injury, is my prediction for the starting goaltender. Desjardins is 8-5-1, with a mindblowing 0.941 save percentage and 1.85 goals against average.
On the Marlies end of things, the team will look to keep the same lineup that won 7-2 to the Bulldogs on Saturday. This should include Ben Scrivens starting in net, seeing as its been over half a week since the last game played. The second line of Hamilton – Zigomanis – Deschamps could be an interesting one to watch – the wheels on the wing and playmaking ability of Zigomanis may do well to get past a Monsters team that doesn’t have a ton of foot speed. The Marlies are certainly hoping this is the case, because the current 2-4 record against a team on the opposite end of the division standings is confusing, to say the least.
The game is at 7:00, and is on the road. AHL live will have the video feed, an AM 640 the audio. You can keep up with my twitter too if text and/or not paying for video is your thing.
