The Toronto Marlies have won the opening game of the 2026 Calder Cup Finals. On Friday, the Marlies defeated the Chicago Wolves 4-2 to take a one game to none series lead in the best out of seven series (American Hockey League championship). The Marlies are the top affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Wolves are the top affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. On Sunday night the Hurricanes can win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history as they lead the Vegas Golden Knights three games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Marlies were led in scoring by Vinni Lettieri, who had two goals and one assist for three points. The other Marlies goal scorers were Cedric Pare of Levis, Quebec, and defenseman Ben Danford of Madoc, Ontario. Meanwhile, Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Borya Valis had two assists each for two points.
It is an impressive story that the Marlies are in the Calder Cup Final. That is because they were fourth in the North Division. They defeated the Rochester Americans two games to one in the first round, the Laval Rocket (affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) three games to two in the North Division semifinals, the Cleveland Monsters three games to two in the North Division finals, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins four games to two in the Eastern Conference Finals.
