The Toronto Marlies are second place in the North Division after going on a 27-10-2-0 run since their last-place showing in January. They will be facing the third-seed Albany Devils in the first round of playoffs, a best-of-five series. The higher-seeded team was allowed to choose where to begin the series, and Toronto chose to start in Albany.

The Marlies are in an interesting position -- the teams above and below them in the affiliation are also in playoffs, so they are short on black aces or new first-line fodder for their run. Hopefully this doesn't matter; in the words of Sheldon Keefe, Garret Sparks has become much more consistent in goal. Keefe told the Toronto Sun: “When Sparks was (putting in) consistent goaltending, when we got him going, you’re giving up two goals a game as opposed to three and suddenly we’re on the other side of one-goal games."

During the regular season, the Marlies were 3-3-1-1 against Albany and outscored them 24-21. Last season, the Marlies faced Albany in the second round, and went seven games before eliminating them to advance to the conference final. The Devils have an excellent penalty kill, but Toronto has a 22.3% conversion rate on the power play. Which team will push through?

If you live in Toronto, you can purchase tickets by the following means:

Playoff tickets for round one and full playoff packages are available through marlies.ca or by calling 416-597-PUCK (7825).

If you are watching from afar, you can purchase a team subscription at AHL TV.

Here are the locations and dates for the first round.

N2-Toronto Marlies vs. N3-Albany Devils

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Toronto at Albany, 7:00

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Toronto at Albany, 5:00

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 29 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00

*if necessary… All times Eastern

A1-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. A4-Providence Bruins

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – W-B/Scranton at Providence, 7:05

Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – W-B/Scranton at Providence, 3:05

Game 3 – Thu., Apr. 27 – Providence at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Providence at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

*Game 5 – Sun., Apr. 30 – Providence at W-B/Scranton, 3:05

*if necessary… All times Eastern

A2-Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. A3-Hershey Bears

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 7:05

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 7:05

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Lehigh Valley at Hershey, 7:00

*Game 4 – Sat., Apr. 29 – Lehigh Valley at Hershey, 7:00

*Game 5 – Sun., Apr. 30 – Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 5:05

*if necessary… All times Eastern

N1-Syracuse Crunch vs. N4-St. John’s IceCaps

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 29 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:00

*if necessary… All times Eastern

C1-Chicago Wolves vs. C4-Charlotte Checkers

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Chicago at Charlotte, 7:00

Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Chicago at Charlotte, 7:15

Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Charlotte at Chicago, 3:00

*Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 25 – Charlotte at Chicago, 8:00

*Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Charlotte at Chicago, 8:00

*if necessary… All times Eastern

C2-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. C3-Milwaukee Admirals

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7:00

Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 4:00

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8:00

*Game 5 – Mon., May 1 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7:00

*if necessary… All times Eastern

P1-San Jose Barracuda vs. P4-Stockton Heat

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Stockton at San Jose, 10:00

Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Stockton at San Jose, 6:00

Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 28 – San Jose at Stockton, 10:00

*Game 4 – Sun., Apr. 30 – San Jose at Stockton, 7:00

*Game 5 – Tue., May 2 – Stockton at San Jose, 10:00

*if necessary... All times Eastern

P2-San Diego Gulls vs. P3-Ontario Reign

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:00

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00

Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:00

*Game 4 – Mon., May 1 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00

*Game 5 – Tue., May 2 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:00

*if necessary... All times Eastern