Marlies in command after Game 3 romp

Photo: Scott Thomas

The Toronto Marlies are one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals after a resounding 7-1 win over Syracuse on Sunday night.

The Marlies now have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and will look to sweep aside the Crunch in Game 4 on Tuesday.

Thirteen different players registered a point in Game 3 for Toronto, which snapped a six-game road losing streak in postseason play.

Calvin Pickard (1-0) made 18 saves to pick up the win in the first playoff start of his six-year career. He also recorded an assist.

With both teams coming off a double-overtime marathon less than 24 hours earlier, it was the Marlies who jumped out quickly as Chris Mueller (1g, 1a) and Carl Grundstrom (1g, 1a) scored to give Toronto a 2-0 lead just 4:35 into Game 3.

After making 55 saves in Game 2 on Saturday, Connor Ingram (1-2) stopped 23 of 30 shots in Game 3.

The loss matched the Crunch’s largest margin of defeat ever in a home playoff game; it had occurred four times previously, most recently in an 8-2 loss — also to Toronto — exactly 10 years ago (May 6, 2008).

North Division Finals – Series “J” (best-of-7)
N1-Toronto Marlies vs. N2-Syracuse Crunch
Game 1 – Thu., May 3 – TORONTO 6, Syracuse 4 | Recap
Game 2 – Sat., May 5 – TORONTO 2, Syracuse 1 (2OT) | Recap
Game 3 – Sun., May 6 – Toronto 7, SYRACUSE 1
Game 4 – Tue., May 8 – Toronto at Syracuse, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 12 – Syracuse at Toronto, 4:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 14 – Toronto at Syracuse, 7:00
*Game 7 – Wed., May 16 – Syracuse at Toronto, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern