Nazem Kadri currently has a five-game point streak, which includes two goals and 11 points- Image Courtesy of Dave Abel
TORONTO-The Toronto Marlies played four games this past week, which included three games in three days over the weekend, and they were able to come away with three victories.
Toronto’s week started off on Tuesday with a meeting in Oklahoma City against the Barons and, even though Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Justin Schultz combined for four goals and 12 points, Jake Gardiner scored in overtime to give the Marlies a 6-5 victory.
On Friday Matt Frattin returned to the lineup for the first time since knee surgery in June and he scored twice for the Marlies, however the host Hamilton Bulldogs scored five times on Ben Scrivens and skated away with a 6-3 victory.
Friday’s game wrapped up Toronto’s eight-game road trip and the club went 5-3-0.
Toronto returned to the Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday for the first time in three weeks for a rematch with Hamilton and made up for Friday’s loss by scoring four times in the first period en route to a 6-1 victory. Nazem Kadri led the way for the Marlies as he set up four goals, including both of Keith Aucoin’s markers.
The North-Division leading Abbotsford Heat, who had beaten Toronto twice earlier in the month and picked up at least one point in seven straight games, couldn’t beat Scrivens on Sunday and the host Marlies won 5-0.
Toronto has won six of its last seven games and is now 9-5-1 on the season, which puts them fourth in the Western Conference. They will head back out on the road for its next four games, starting on Thursday in Binghamton to face the Senators.
Here are the Toronto Marlies hot and cold performers for the week of November 12th to 18th.
Who’s Hot
Nazem Kadri
Season Stats: 14 GP 2 G 12 A 14 PTS
Kadri has bounced back from a healthy scratch on Nov. 9th with a five-game point streak that includes two goals and 9 assists. He setup four goals on Saturday against the Bulldogs and his one goal and seven assists in four games earned him AHL player of the week.
Mike Kostka
Season Stats: 15 GP 3 G 11 A 14 PTS
Kostka has put together a six-game point streak that includes one goal and eight assists. He setup three goals in Oklahoma City, including Gardiner’s OT winner, and currently leads all Marlies’ blue liners in scoring.
Matt Frattin
Season Stats: 2 GP 2 G 0 A 3 PTS
Frattin played for the first time in six months on Friday against the Bulldogs and stepped in with two goals. He then scored again on Sunday against the Heat. Dating back to last season, including the playoffs, the 24-year-old has 27 goals in 38 games with the Marlies.
Who’s Cold
Jussi Rynnas
Season Stats: 4 GP 3-0-1 1.93 GAA .938 SV%
Rynnas’ timing for injuries is terrible. The Finnish goaltender had earned extra playing time with his recent performances and was expected to start on Friday against the Bulldogs, except he tweaked his groin that morning in practice and is out of action. Last season when Rynnas was playing his best hockey, he went down with a concussion. Seems each time he gets things going bad luck comes his way.
Joe Colborne
Seasons Stats: 13 GP 1 G 5 A 6 PTS
Colborne registered a goal and an assist on Nov. 10th but has been held pointless in three games since. On Saturday against the Bulldogs he dropped the gloves with Gabriel Dumont and after taking a punch to the nose had to leave the game and didn’t return. It could be the reason why he was scratched on Sunday against the Heat.
Greg McKegg
Season Stats: 13 GP 2 G 2 A 4 PTS
Despite Toronto producing its most offence all season in recent weeks, McKegg has not been part of it. The rookie has been held pointless in five straight games and he only had two shots-on-net in three games this week. With many players contributing up front, McKegg could find himself rotating more often in and out of the lineup with fellow rookie Brad Ross.
Look for the Toronto Marlies hot and cold performers every Monday.
KYLE CICERELLA
