The Cleveland Monsters and Toronto Marlies are set to meet in a winner‑take‑all Game 5 of the North Division finals, a contest that will determine which team advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. This is the ninth winner‑take‑all game in this year’s Calder Cup Playoffs, and the Marlies have already won two such contests this postseason.
A Playoff Battle for the Ages
Toronto’s recent surge has been anchored by forward Ryan Tverberg, who contributed two goals and an assist in the Marlies’ last victory, and goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, whose 36‑shot performance kept the team alive. Their efforts have helped the club snap a streak of low‑scoring periods and establish a potent power‑play attack.
Coach Trent Vogelhuber of the Monsters has stressed discipline and five‑on‑five play, while Marlies bench boss John Gruden has highlighted the importance of confidence and composure as the series reaches its climax.
If the Marlies prevail, they will meet the Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins in the conference finals, a rematch that could see Toronto earn its sixth appearance in the AHL’s final four, a feat last achieved in 2019.
The opening 20 minutes of Game 4 set the tone, with Toronto outshooting Cleveland 11‑2 in the first period and scoring the series’ first power‑play goal, a milestone that underscored the team’s early dominance.