The Marlies were second best for a sizable chunk of the first 40 minutes of this game but found a way to stick with it — despite forfeiting 2-0 and 3-2 leads — in what was one of the stiffer tests they’ll face down the stretch in advance of playoff time.
“They’re a team that gets all of their offense by shutting you down on the forecheck and through the neutral zone,” said Sheldon Keefe after the game. “If you don’t break out well through the neutral zone, you give the game to them. You get away with it a lot of nights and on a lot of nights, it’s not as difficult.