After defeating the second-place Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins at Ricoh Coliseum on Friday night, the Marlies hosted the Portland Pirates for a Saturday afternoon game at the Air Canada Centre (ACC).
The Pirates, coming off a day’s rest, took advantage of the Marlies quick turnover on the schedule, outshooting the first-place Toronto team 8-2 lead before heading to a powerplay.
After the Pirates failed to convert on the Leipsic hooking penalty, they continued to test Garret Sparks, who made 14 saves in the first period.
Late in the period, after Leipsic drew a hooking penalty of his own, the Marlies began to apply pressure.