It means that the Marlies got a lot stronger for game 5 against the Comets when the Leafs sent down Andreas Johnsson and Dermott and haven't looked back.....
Correctomundo.
The Comets got their guys back to start the series. They lost the first 2 and then buoyed up by their insane fan base, they scratched out 2 straight wins. Then the Leafs lost out and sent down the 2 aforementioned and the Comets were not even in game #5. The Leafs have since eaten up the #2 team in their own division and the top team from the Atlantic Division.
The Comets finished the season 38-26-8-4 or essentially 38-38 for 4th place in their own division. 6 of the league's 7 worst teams were in the east and 3 of the worst 4 were in the Comets North division. The Comets only managed to finish 19-14 vs those 7 teams. You can bet the second best team in the AHL East would have been a whole lot better vs that bunch and as a result given both Lehigh Valley and Toronto a run for the best the team in the East. That never came close to happening.
Utica did what Utica and their PTOs could do with the set of negative circumstances they had to deal with for the better part of their season. They put up a Hell of a fight in their Playoff appearance and scared the bejesus out of the Marlies, but when push came to shove, the Marlies put the Comets away with barely a whimper.
I have already given the kudos to the coaching staff and the players for their gallant effort, but for sure the better team won the series and has proven such in the next two rounds. The other side is yet to be determined with Texas leading Rockford 3-2. Texas finished second in the Pacific and Rockford was 4th in the Central. Toronto was the best overall in the AHL 22 points better than Texas and 24 better than Rockford.
Toronto is resting and the other 2 are beating each others brains in. That can work both ways for the Marlies. The well rested team ousts the fatigued group or the battle tested group will not be denied and shocks the rested team favorites. Odds will favor the Marlies. However, the games will have to be played on the ice one at a time and the stat sheets get thrown out. I'll be watching this with great interest.