In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll use the downtime during the All-Star Break to catch fans up on some of the news about the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies. Also, I’ll comment on the possibility of Auston Matthews reaching the 70-goal milestone this season and discuss former NHL 70-goal scorer Bernie Nicholls and his desire to continue to hold his record with the Los Angeles Kings.
Item One: Midway Notes About the Toronto Marlies Goalies
Young Swedish goalie Dennis Hildeby started his AHL season off spectacularly. He was so good that when Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov was going through his downturn, Hildeby was called up to travel with the team. Many fans couldn’t wait to see him play his first NHL game.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Prospect Hildeby Rising Among Swedish Goalies
That never transpired. The organization decided that it was best not to throw Hildeby into the fire so quickly. This was to be a season of learning the ropes in North America; ergo, Martin Jones had a ton of work while Hildeby watched. Since his return to the Marlies, he has faced some challenges.
Three of his last four starts have not gone well. Notably, he was pulled from a game against the Belleville Senators after giving up three goals on eleven shots. Despite a strong bounce-back contest in the subsequent game against the Charlotte Checkers, allowing only two goals, he allowed six goals against the Cleveland Monsters and another four against the Hershey Bears. As a result, his save percentage on the season has slipped to .907. However, because of his spectacular start, his goals-against average (GAA) remains at a respectable 2.49.
On the other hand, the other key Marlies goalie, Keith Petruzzelli, started the season poorly, but he’s on an upward trend. After winning his last two starts, Petruzzelli’s overall numbers are gradually improving. With his record of 6-5-1, he has a .881 save percentage and a 3.14 GAA. Despite facing challenges earlier in the season, Petruzzelli’s recent performances indicate a positive shift in his game.
Item Two: Roni Hirvonen Returns to the Marlies
If you haven’t heard Roni Hirvonen’s name in a while, there’s good reason. But he made a solid return to the Marlies lineup on Sunday after a challenging journey back from a significant injury. The Maple Leafs’ second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft had been sidelined since the AHL season’s second game, and the nature of his injury remained…
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