Lettieri Powers Marlies Past Wolves in Game 1, but Series Feels Wide Open
The Toronto Marlies took the first step toward a Calder Cup championship Friday night, defeating the Chicago Wolves 4–2 on the road in Game 1 of the AHL Finals.
On the scoreboard, it’s exactly the start Toronto wanted. On the ice, it felt far less comfortable than a typical series-opening win.
The Marlies are now just three wins away from lifting the Calder Cup.
The Marlies are now three wins away from lifting the Calder Cup, with three of the next four games set to be played in Toronto. But if Game 1 was any indication, home-ice advantage may not matter much in this matchup. Toronto has actually been better on the road this postseason (8–3) than at home (5–4), and the Wolves made sure Friday night stayed tight from start to finish. Still, Toronto found a way.
Vinni Lettieri was once again at the centre of it all, finishing with two goals and an assist. His biggest moment came at 11:32 of the third period when he scored the game-winner, before adding an empty-net goal with nine seconds left to seal the 4–2 victory. The opening goal set the tone for his night and ultimately the game itself. Lettieri was involved in everything, driving offence when the Marlies needed it most and capitalizing on key moments in a tight contest.
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Although Lettieri led the team, other Marlies stepped up big.
Ben Danford and Cédric Paré provided the other Toronto goals, with Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Borya Valis each adding two assists in a balanced offensive effort. Danford’s goal was also a milestone moment, marking his first AHL playoff goal after jumping into the professional ranks as a 20-year-old rookie.
In net, Artur Akhtyamov continued his strong postseason form, stopping 28 of 30 shots. The Marlies goaltender now sits at a 12–6 playoff record with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage—numbers that continue to quietly underpin Toronto’s run.
Although the Marlies won, the game was even throughout.
Despite the win, the game felt far from one-sided. Both teams generated chances in a fast-paced, back-and-forth contest that included several momentum swings and highlight saves at both ends. Through one game, the Marlies and Wolves look evenly matched—arguably more so than any opponent Toronto has faced in the postseason so far.
That’s the underlying concern for a team now holding a 1–0 series lead: nothing about this matchup suggests it will be easy. Game 2 will test whether the Marlies can turn a hard-fought opener into control of the series—or whether the Wolves are about to drag this Finals into a long, grind-it-out battle.
For now, Toronto leads. But the margin feels thin.