When the Toronto Marlies were packing their bags for a three-game road trip to Albany, coach Sheldon Keefe was asked how many players he would take on the trip.

He thought about it for the second, and answered: "More than we need."

It was a point well taken and a thought well thunk.

These are the playoffs, and -- just like in the NHL -- they are a grind and they can take a toll.

The Marlies -- now even at two games apiece in the second round series against the Devils -- have lost two players to injury: defenceman Stuart Percy, who crashed into the boards in Game 3, and forward Andreas Johnson, who took an elbow to the head in Game 4. He was taken to hospital, and released.

As well, Nikita Soshnikov has been in and out of the lineup all playoffs. He played Tuesday night, scoring twice in the rout.



With Percy out, it meant Travis Dermott made his AHL debut. With Johnson out, it means more changes for the Marlies in Thursday night's Game 5. And, of course, there will be a Game 6 Saturday at the Ricoh.

One of the Marlies strength's is their depth. It's being tested now.



BIBEAU TIME: It looks like Antoine Bibeau has taken the job as the Marlies top goalie. He has started three in a row. Keefe had more or less been alternating between Bibeau and Sparks. But he seemed to want one goalie to take the job and run with it. With a day off between games, Bibeau has had plenty of time to rest.

ICYMI: Connor Carrick has 12 points to lead the AHL playoffs in that category. ... T.J. Brennan is tied for the playoffs lead with five goals. .... Erie Otters coach Kris Knoblauch was named OHL coach of the year. ... The Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday named Benoit Groulx the new head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Groulx had been coach of the Gatineau Olympiques and coached Canada to gold at the world junior tournament in 2015.

GOT A QUESTION? Email me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I'll answer it in Friday's mailbag.



SUSPSENSION: There could be a suspension coming to Albany's Dan Kelly for this hit on Andreas Johnson.

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