Marlies win series on Battaglia's late goal

The Toronto Marlies defeated the San Antonio Rampage 2-1 on Monday night, winning the North Division Semi-Final 4 games to 3.  With the game knotted at 1-1 in the third period and overtime looming as a near certainty, Bates Battaglia fired the game-winning goal with less than 59 seconds remaining in regulation.  Battaglia picked up the puck near the right point, then turned back towards the blueline and spun around to his right to shoot.  The puck went past a maze of players and through the five-hole of stunned Rampage goalie Josh Tordjman.

"I'll take them any way I can get 'em!" smiled Battaglia after the game.  "I just wanted to get it in deep, and put it on net if possible - and look what happens!"

Scott Clemmensen made 37 saves for the victory and was named the game's second star.  "I felt better as the series went on," said Clemmensen of his own game. "I thought Game #1 was probably my weakest game even though we won.  But, I just kept feeling better and better after every game, and here in Game Seven it paid off!"

Head coach Greg Gilbert credited his team with sticking to the fundamentals, on the way to victory.  "You go back to how simple the game is. You stress a lot about throwing pucks at the net and getting traffic there.  A soft shot went in and found a way through his legs, and that's how we won."

Kris Newbury opened the scoring in the game, deflecting a Jiri Tlusty shot on the power-play.

The Marlies now face the Syracuse Crunch in the North Division Final.  Game One of the series will be played Friday at Ricoh Coliseum.

Forward lines: Murphy-Mitchell-Ondrus, Leveille-Foster-Ling, Tlusty-Newbury-Battaglia, Aubin-Gilati-Rogers Goaltenders: Clemmensen (W 60:00, 37 SV, 1 GA), Pogge (0:00)

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