Adedokun Waliyu 
Twenty minutes away from completing a sweep of the Chicago Wolves on Thursday, the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate surrendered two early third-period goals before Viktor Neuchev scored the 4-3 overtime winner. Alex Nylander had a chance to win it for Toronto moments earlier but was denied.
The loss silenced a crowd of more than 8,000 at Coca-Cola Coliseum that had been preparing to celebrate the Marlies’ second AHL championship in eight years. The series now continues with Game 5 at the same venue, with Chicago hoping to extend the series back home for Games 6 and 7.
Chicago opened the scoring in the first minute when Bradly Nadeau scored on the Wolves’ first shot of the game. Toronto responded quickly. Jacob Quillan created a scoring chance on the power play with a clever backhand attempt between his legs, and Alex Steeves buried the rebound during a 3-on-2 rush. It was Toronto’s first power-play goal in 10 opportunities during the final and Quillan’s second goal of the playoffs after returning from an upper-body injury.
William Villeneuve’s assist on Steeves’ goal gave him 18 assists this postseason, tying him for the fourth-most in a single AHL playoff season. Cayden Primeau faced 21 shots in the opening period.
In the second period, Toronto successfully killed a 48-second 5-on-3 penalty before Dakota Mermis sent Ryan Tverberg in alone to score and make it 3-1.
The Marlies failed to capitalize on a late second-period power play after Chicago was called for a bench minor. The Wolves then struck twice within the opening six minutes of the third period.
After defenceman Domenick Fensore scored, Justin Robidas — the son of former Maple Leaf Stéphane Robidas — circled behind Artur Akhtyamov’s net and scored on a wraparound to tie the game.
Primeau, who started the season with the Maple Leafs while replacing Joseph Woll, made 32 saves to keep Chicago in the game.
Before Game 4, Wolves coach Spiros Anastas expressed confidence in Primeau, calling him “a great professional with a great pedigree” who had been “paramount to our success.”
Chicago had previously survived elimination by defeating Colorado in Games 6 and 7 of the Western Conference Final.
“Now there might be an advantage for us. Now we’ve got nothing to lose,” Anastas said. “Max pressure, 60 minutes. You’re either going to win or lose, that’s it. Everyone’s counting us out, so maybe that lets us play a little more freely.”
