The Marlies lineup was so disheveled that Derain Plouffe arrived for the game late and joined his teammates on the bench around the five-minute mark of the first period. Morgan Klimchuk returned from suspension, Plouffe made his season debut, Calle Rosen returned from injury (neck), Colin Greening was called on to play center, and Jordan Subban was given right-wing duties on the fourth line.
“I thought the group that we had, despite all of the changes to the lineup, was good enough to show better here today,” said Sheldon Keefe.
First Period
Despite missing Jeremy Bracco, Adam Brooks and Pierre Engvall through illness, the Marlies gave up just a single shot through the first ten minutes of the opening frame and had chances to open up a lead heading into the first intermission.