AHL Morning Skate: June 14, 2026 | TheAHL.com

The Toronto Marlies lead the 2026 Calder Cup Finals after a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Friday. Vinni Lettieri recorded two goals and one assist to lead the Marlies in the series opener. The teams meet for Game 2 this afternoon at Allstate Arena at 4 ET on Sportsnet One.

How did the Toronto Marlies win Game 1?

Toronto secured the win through a come-from-behind effort, marking their seventh such victory this postseason. Ben Danford, a 2024 first-round NHL Draft pick for the Maple Leafs, scored his first professional goal to erase a 1-0 deficit in the first period. Cédric Paré later tied the game with 49.7 seconds remaining in the second period.

Vinni Lettieri scored the tiebreaking goal with 8:28 left in regulation. Lettieri currently leads the league in playoff scoring after recording 42 points in 55 regular-season games. Borya Valis and Bo Groulx each contributed two assists to the effort.

Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov made 26 saves in his 16th consecutive start. According to team data, Akhtyamov has allowed two goals or fewer in 12 of those 16 games.

Did You Know? Artur Akhtyamov and Amir Miftakhov are only the second and third Russian goaltenders to ever play in a Calder Cup Finals game, joining Pyotr Kochetkov, who played for Chicago in 2022.

Why does the Game 1 result matter?

The victory provides Toronto with a significant historical advantage. According to Calder Cup Finals history, the team that wins Game 1 has gone on to win the championship 64 out of 87 times, a 73.6 percent success rate.

HIGHLIGHTS: Game 1 Toronto Marlies vs Chicago Wolves | AHL Calder Cup Playoffs 2026

The loss puts Chicago in a rare position. Only eight teams have ever lost Game 1 of the Finals at home and still won the series. However, this has occurred three times in the last seven years, including Chicago’s own victory over Springfield in 2022.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the Marlies’ resilience is a defining factor in this series, as evidenced by their seven come-from-behind wins this postseason. While Chicago dictated the pace for much of Game 1, the Marlies’ ability to capitalize on “opportunistic scoring” creates a high-pressure scenario for the Wolves in Game 2.

What could happen in Game 2?

The Chicago Wolves may focus on reducing the “two critical errors” that head coach Spiros Anastas said cost the team on Toronto’s second and third goals. Chicago’s offense will likely continue to rely on Bradly Nadeau and Skyler Brind’Amour, who provided the team’s scoring in Game 1.

Toronto could look to extend their current road winning streak to six games. This streak began with their Game 5 victory in Cleveland to clinch their division final series. The Marlies have previously recorded five-game road winning streaks in the 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2019 postseasons.

Both teams may struggle to find success on the power play, as both went 0-for-3 in Friday’s contest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the Toronto Marlies in scoring during Game 1?
Vinni Lettieri recorded two goals and one assist.

Why did Amir Miftakhov start in goal for Chicago?
Miftakhov started in place of an injured Cayden Primeau.

What is the historical probability of winning the championship after winning Game 1?
According to Finals history, the Game 1 winner wins the championship 73.6 percent of the time.

Do you think the Chicago Wolves can overcome the historical odds after losing Game 1 at home?