MacIntyre perfect in Marlies 4-0 win over Wolves; Toronto sweeps Chicago

TORONTO - Drew MacIntyre made 30 saves for his second shutout of the post-season and the Toronto Marlies blanked Chicago 4-0 on Friday to complete their four-game sweep of the Wolves in the American Hockey League playoffs.

The Marlies advance to the Western Conference final for the second time in three years and third time in franchise history.

Greg McKegg, Carter Ashton and Peter Holland scored for Toronto, which improved to a perfect 7-0 in the Calder Cup playoffs. Korbinian Holzer added an empty-net goal with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Sam Carrick, who moved up to the Marlies top line alongside Ashton and Holland for Game 4, finished with two assists. The line combined for five points in the win.

Jake Allen stopped 25 shots for Chicago.

McKegg opened the scoring at 7:51 of the first, beating Allen with a wrist shot from the top of the face-off circle for his third of the playoffs. Frazer McLaren and T.J. Brennan drew assists on the goal for Toronto, who have scored first in all seven playoff games to date.

Spencer Abbott nearly made it 2-0 at 9:31 of the first, on a Marlies power play, as his point shot got behind Allen, but hit the post. The goal light and horn went off, but following video review, it was determined the puck did not cross the goal-line.

Chicago had an excellent chance to find the equalizer late in the first with a 35-second two-man advantage. Wolves leading scorer Dmitrij Jaskin one-timed a Keith Aucoin pass but MacIntyre got just enough of it to keep it out.

Ashton made it 2-0 at 2:46 of the second period blowing a slap shot past Allen, from the half boards, for his second of the playoffs.

Adam Cracknell had a good chance to get Chicago on the board at 4:42 of the second, from in close, but put his shot just wide.

Holland picked up the insurance marker at 7:09 of the third period, on a breakaway, beating Allen glove-side for his fourth of the playoffs.

Toronto now awaits the winner of the Texas-Grand Rapids series to determine their next opponent. The Western Conference Final is expected to start next weekend.

Notes: Marlies defenceman Andrew MacWilliam missed the game due to an upper body injury suffered in Wednesday's game. Kevin Marshall took the place of MacWilliam in the Marlies lineup. Forward Frazer McLaren dressed in place of David Broll on Toronto's fourth line.