The entire season was on the line for the Marlies on Friday night. As the AHL's regular season champions, expectations were high that the team could make it to the Calder Cup Final.
Getting swept by the Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference Final would have been embarrassing, especially after Wednesday's disastrous 8-2 loss. The Marlies team that hit the ice last night looked much different than the team on Wednesday, and the final score proved it: a 5 goal shut-out, with William Nylander earning a hat trick.
Marlies' coach Sheldon Keefe stuck to his guns and started Antoine Bibeau in net, and he would not be disappointed with that selection.