MANITOBA 5, TORONTO 2
Jannik Hansen tallied the eventual game-winning goal at 6:24 of the third period and added a pair of assists as Manitoba downed visiting Toronto by a 5-2 final on Sunday before 9,802 fans at the MTS Centre.
The Moose, who currently sit second in the North Division, earned a split of their weekend set with the first-place Marlies.
Zack FitzGerald gave the Moose a 1-0 lead at 6:00 of the first period with his fifth goal of the season.
But Toronto defensemen Jay Harrison and Andy Wozniewski each tallied power play markers in the second period to put the Marlies on top by a goal.
Manitoba notched four unanswered goals from that point on. Daniel Rahimi answered 52 seconds after Wozniewski’s goal, and Hansen, Maxime Fortunus, and Josh Prudden all scored in the third period, with Prudden’s going into an empty net.
Moose rookie goaltender Cory Schneider made 22 saves in the victory, improving his record to 9-10-1 for the season.
BRIDGEPORT 4, HARTFORD 1
Bridgeport used two goals from Steve Regier and 32 saves by goaltender Joey MacDonald on its way to a 4-1 win over visiting Hartford before 7,750 fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
The surging Sound Tigers won their fourth straight game and ninth in their last 11 (9-2-0-0). Bridgeport moved into a three-way tie with Albany and Binghamton for the East Division’s final playoff spot. All three teams have played 54 games.
Trevor Smith posted a goal and an assist for the Sound Tigers, and Sean Bentivoglio also scored.
Dane Byers lit the lamp for the Wolf Pack, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. It marked their first regulation loss since Jan. 18.
PROVIDENCE 4, LOWELL 3 (OT)
Matt Hendricks scored at 3:48 of overtime to lift Providence past visiting Lowell by a 4-3 final at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
T.J. Trevelyan, Byron Bitz, and Nate Thompson scored in regulation for the Bruins, who had been 1-4-0-0 in their previous five games.
Trailing 3-1 early in the third period, Lowell received goals from Ryan Murphy and Barry Tallackson to tie the score. The Devils’ Rod Pelley scored in the first period.
The Bruins held a shots advantage of 39-15 for the game, and goaltender Tuukka Rask picked up the win with just 12 saves.
Devils goaltender Frank Doyle made 35 saves in the losing effort.
MILWAUKEE 4, ROCKFORD 0
Cal O’Reilly and Matt Ellison posted two goals and an assist apiece as Milwaukee blanked struggling Rockford by a 4-0 final at the Bradley Center.
2008 AHL All-Star goaltender Pekka Rinne made 23 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, improving his record to 25-20-2.
O’Reilly and Ellison each scored two goals in the second and third periods. O’Reilly has notched four goals and nine points in his last three games.
The IceHogs had their winless skid extended to eight games (0-6-1-1).
IOWA 3, HOUSTON 0
Goaltender Tobias Stephan made 28 saves to lead visiting Iowa to a 3-0 victory over Houston at the Toyota Center.
Chris Conner gave the Stars a 1-0 lead in the first period, and Brett Westgarth and James Neal scored in the third period. Westgarth’s goal was the first of his AHL career.
Stephan recorded his fifth shutout of the season and third of the month for Iowa.
The Stars won both games of their visit to Houston and didn’t allow a goal in either game. Steve Silverthorn posted a 19-save shutout in Friday’s 1-0 victory.
HAMILTON 4, ROCHESTER 1
Mikhail Grabovski had a hand in all four goals, scoring one and adding three assists, as Hamilton downed host Rochester by a 4-1 count at the Blue Cross Arena.
Grabovski’s performance gave him 10 points (5-5-10) in three games this weekend, all victories for the Bulldogs.
Marvin Degon, Eric Manlow, and Duncan Milroy also scored for Hamilton, and goaltender Jaroslav Halak secured the victory with 33 saves.
Dylan Hunter netted Rochester’s lone goal.
QUAD CITY 3, SAN ANTONIO 2 (SO)
Carsen Germyn tallied the lone shootout goal for either side to lead Quad City past visiting San Antonio, 3-2, at the I Wireless Center.
Eric Nystrom tallied both regulation goals for the Flames, who earned a split of their two-game set with the Rampage.
Quad City goaltender Matt Keetley made 33 saves through regulation and overtime and denied all four San Antonio attempts in the shootout.
Defensemen Bryan Helmer and Brendan Bell scored in regulation for the Rampage, and goaltender Josh Tordjman finished with 40 saves.
