The Toronto Marlies are second place in the North Division after going on a 27-10-2-0 run since their last-place showing in January. They will be facing the third-seed Albany Devils in the first round of playoffs, a best-of-five series. The higher-seeded team was allowed to choose where to begin the series, and Toronto chose to start in Albany.
The Marlies are in an interesting position -- the teams above and below them in the affiliation are also in playoffs, so they are short on black aces or new first-line fodder for their run. Hopefully this doesn't matter; in the words of Sheldon Keefe, Garret Sparks has become much more consistent in goal.