The Toronto Marlies defeated the Cleveland Monsters 3-2 in a dramatic Game 5 of the N4-N3 North Division Finals on Sunday afternoon at the Q Centre, with Easton Cowan netting the game-winner at 19:11 of regulation. The win sends the Marlies to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, and they will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins starting Wednesday in Pennsylvania.
Cowan’s clutch goal gave Toronto only their third-ever playoff series win after trailing 2-1 in the third period of Game 5, joining 2002 Chicago Wolves and 2023 Coachella Valley Firebirds as the only teams in AHL history to accomplish the feat in the same postseason. With the series tied at 2-2, the Marlies needed a late surge to force Game 5, and they got it from captain Logan Shaw, who tied the game with 4:30 remaining in the third.
Shaw, a 13-year pro, is now just two wins away from his second conference final appearance. He previously reached the NHL’s Western Conference Final in 2017 with the Anaheim Ducks.
“This is our third year together and he’s gotten to be a better all-around player and a better all-around leader,” head coach John Gruden said. “His leadership is second to none.”
Shaw’s goal ignited the Marlies’ comeback, and Cowan’s heroics capped off a resilient performance. The Marlies have now rallied from a 2-1 series deficit in two straight Game 5s, first against Laval in the division semifinals and now against Cleveland.
The Penguins, who eliminated Springfield with a 3-2 series win of their own, now prepare for a best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals. The first game is set for Wednesday at 7:05 ET in Wilkes-Barre. Chicago and Colorado are also set to begin their Conference Finals matchup on Thursday.
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