Ultimately, the difference between the teams was the special teams battle and the play of Kasimir Kaskisuo — the combination ensured the Marlies never relinquished their lead after 20 minutes.
First Period
Understandably, it took a while for both teams to find their feet in the season opener before the first period turned into a special teams battle from the five-minute mark onwards.
It took Toronto just five seconds to score on the first power play of the game, with a familiar name directing traffic: There was no Chris Mueller for Jeremy Bracco to find waiting in the slot, but the right-winger picked out Adam Brooks, whose effort found the pads of Marcus Hogberg before Egor Korshkov finished off the first goal of the new campaign inside five minutes.