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The Marlies can wrap up the best-of-three series with a victory on Friday in Rochester.
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Published Apr 22, 2026 • Last updated 26 minutes ago • 1 minute read
As their organizational big brothers continue to dissect a season gone wrong, the Toronto Marlies have no similar early off-season pondering.
The Marlies started the Calder Cup playoffs in sharp fashion on Wednesday at Coca-Cola Coliseum, beating the Rochester Americans 5-0 to win Game 1 of the Atlantic Division first-round series.
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The Marlies can wrap up the best-of-three series with a victory on Friday night in Rochester. Play like they did in the opener — a complete effort which resulted in little breathing space — and there won’t be a need for a deciding Game 3 in Toronto on Sunday.
Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, following a late-season audition with the Maple Leafs, wasn’t a busy man in the Marlies net, making 16 saves for the shutout.
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Toronto’s offence was sparked by forward Vinni Lettieri, who completed a hat trick when he scored a power-play goal with four seconds remaining in the second period.
Michael Pezzetta and Bo Groulx also scored for the Marlies, who put 32 shots on Rochester goalie Devon Levi. Easton Cowan assisted on Lettieri’s third goal. Lettieri also had an assist for a four-point night.
It was a mild surprise when Akhtyamov led the Marlies on to the ice for the warmup, getting the nod to start over Dennis Hildeby.
Coach John Gruden said on Tuesday that could have flipped a coin and been confident in either of his netminders to start Game 1. Akhtyamov held the fort with the Marlies during Hildeby’s stints with the Maple Leafs, especially in the first half of the season, and had a strong performance on Wednesday. Akhtyamov didn’t have much work, but was in control when he did get shots and exhibited excellent rebound control.
The series winner will play the Laval Rocket in a best-of-five Atlantic Division semifinal.
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