By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The two best teams in the AHL faced off for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday afternoon after extended layoffs from game action. It didn't seem to phase either side in a tight and competitive game from start to finish.
In the end, the best team in the AHL had the last laugh in the series opener. The Toronto Marlies broke a 3-3 tie early in the third period to defeat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-3, in Game 1.
The Marlies jumped out to an early lead in the first on a pair of goals by Miro Aaltonen. The first came on the power play at 6:44. Aaltonen's second came off a defensive zone turnover by the Phantoms that allowed Aaltonen to get free and slip a shot through the five-hole of Alex Lyon.
The Phantoms got a power play late in the period and capitalized with Phil Myers firing a one-timer past Garret Sparks to cut the Toronto lead to one.
After 20 minutes, shots were 11-9 in favor of Toronto.
The Phantoms wasted little time getting things tied up in the second. Tyrell Goulbourne scored just 35 seconds into the period to even things up at two.
At 12:57, back on the power play, the Phantoms grabbed their first lead of the game as Chris Conner snapped a shot home to make it 3-2 Lehigh Valley.
Ben Smith scored the equalizer for Toronto before the end of the period with 3:36 left in the period, sending Game 1 to the second intermission in a 3-3 tie. Shots were 22-21 Toronto after 40 minutes.
In the third, Toronto scored the only goal, as Adam Brooks lifted a perfect shot over Lyon to put the Marlies back in front at 3:18.
Both teams had tremendous chances to score. Lyon kept the Phantoms in the game through the middle portion of the period. Sparks made several clutch saves down the stretch to secure the win.
Lyon finished the game with 28 saves on 32 shots in the loss. Sparks stopped 26 of 29 shots.
The Phantoms were 2-for-4 on the power play. Toronto was 1-for-2 on the man advantage.
The two teams face off again on Sunday afternoon in Game 2 of the series from Toronto. Game time is 4 p.m.
