Overview
- Toronto erased a two-goal deficit with five straight goals to win 5-2 in Cleveland and take a 1-0 series lead.
- Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov stopped 32 of 34 shots to move to 5-2 in the postseason, which his coach said lifted the bench.
- Bo Groulx led with a goal and two assists as nine Marlies recorded points, underscoring Toronto’s depth at five-on-five.
- Head coach John Gruden praised the group’s resiliency and said they must start sharper given the compressed best-of-five.
- Cleveland holds home ice in this division final, and Game 2 is in Rocket Arena as Toronto looks to return home with momentum.