LAKE ERIE 5, HOUSTON 2
Lake Erie climbed out of a 2-0 first-period deficit to score five unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 win over visiting Houston on Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena.
Ryan Stoa paced the Monsters with a pair of goals, including the tying marker at 3:49 of the second period and an empty-netter late in the third. Defenseman Travis Gawryletz’s first marker of the season turned out to be the game-winner, and Luke Walker and Tom Zanoski also scored for Lake Erie.
Ben Walter (0-3-3) and Kevin Montgomery (0-2-2) each finished with multiple assists in the victory, and Monsters goaltender Jason Bacashihua turned aside 25 shots in net.
The Monsters halted a four-game winless skid (0-2-0-2) with their first win since a 6-3 triumph over Chicago on Dec. 3. At 13-11-2-4 (32 points) overall, Lake Erie moved within a point of both Toronto and Abbotsford for second place in the North Division race.
Houston scored first for the 21st time in its 29 games this season but fell to 15-4-0-2 in those contests. Chad Rau and Carson McMillan netted goals for the Aeros, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
HAMILTON 5, TORONTO 1
Rookie forward Olivier Fortier entered the day with two points (1-1-2) in 21 games this season but changed that in a hurry with his first AHL hat trick to lead Hamilton past visiting Toronto by a 5-1 count on Sunday afternoon at Copps Coliseum.
The 21-year-old Fortier added an assist for a four-point night as the Bulldogs maintained first place in the North Division, three points up on both Toronto and Abbotsford.
Max Pacioretty notched his league-leading 17th goal of the season for the Bulldogs, and Andrew Conboy also found the back of the net.
Defenseman Mathieu Carle chipped in a trio of assists in the winning effort, David Desharnais had two helpers, and goaltender Curtis Sanford stopped 34 of 35 shots between the pipes.
Joey Crabb tallied his team-leading 11th goal of the year for the Marlies, who lost for the third time in their last four games (1-3-0-0).
CHARLOTTE 5, HERSHEY 3
Jacob Micflikier scored twice and added an assist, and rookie Zac Dalpe added three points (1-2-3) as Charlotte upended visiting Hershey by a 5-3 count at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Matthew Pistilli and defenseman Bryan Rodney also registered goals for the Checkers, Zach Boychuk chipped in four assists, and 2010 AHL All-Star Jon Matsumoto had two helpers.
Checkers goaltender Mike Murphy (8-4-2) secured the victory with 28 saves on 31 shots, helping Charlotte earn a split of their two-game weekend set against Hershey.
The Checkers are now 9-2-0-1 in their last 12 games and moved one point up on Hershey for third place in the East Division race.
Defenseman Sheldon Souray notched his first goal of the season for the Bears, fellow rearguard Lawrence Nycholat had a goal and an assist, and Jay Beagle also scored. Hershey’s season-high four-game winning streak came to an end.
CONNECTICUT 4, ADIRONDACK 3
Dale Weise netted a pair of third-period goals to provide the difference as Connecticut edged visiting Adirondack by a 4-3 count on Sunday at the XL Center.
Weise, who entered the game with just three goals in 10 games on the season, broke a 2-2 tie at 2:48 of the third period and then made it a 4-2 game about nine minutes later. That proved to be the game-winner when Phantoms rookie Luke Pither scored at the 13:06 mark.
Chad Kolarik and Jeremy Williams also tallied goals for the Whale, and Kolarik added a pair of assists for a three-point afternoon. Rookie Mats Zuccarello chipped in a pair of helpers in the victory.
Connecticut goaltender Cameron Talbot stopped 30 of 33 shots between the pipes as the Whale extended their winning streak to four games and their points streak to eight (6-0-0-2).
Defenseman Danny Syvret and Marc-Andre Bourdon added goals for the Phantoms.
PORTLAND 4, MANCHESTER 2
Portland completed a perfect 3-0-0-0 weekend on the road with a 4-2 victory over Manchester at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
With the victory, the Pirates (17-8-1-1) moved into a first-place tie in the Atlantic Division with the Monarchs (18-10-1-1), who have played three more games than Portland.
Derek Whitmore tallied a pair of goals for the Pirates, while Maxime Legault and Colin Stuart also found the back of the net. Goaltender David Leggio (9-2-0) earned the win with 25 saves on 27 shots.
Portland’s current three-game winning streak is one short of its season high and follows a stretch in which the Pirates went 1-5-0-1 in a seven-game span.
Defenseman Thomas Hickey recorded a goal and an assist for the Monarchs, and Corey Elkins also scored. Manchester is now 1-3-0-0 in its last four outings.
WORCESTER 4, BRIDGEPORT 3 (SO)
T.J. Trevelyan potted the lone shootout goal for either side, sending Worcester to a 4-3 victory over visiting Bridgeport on Sunday at the DCU Center.
The Sharks overcame a 2-0 deficit in regulation on second-period goals by Jason Pitton, Jonathan Cheechoo (1-1-2), and defenseman Matt Irwin to take a 3-2 advantage into the third period.
That lead held until the game’s final minute, but Sound Tigers forward Josh Bailey sent the game to overtime by scoring a shorthanded goal with just eight seconds left in regulation.
Worcester goaltender Alex Stalock (13-9-2) wound up with 20 saves through the first 65 minutes and denied all five of Bridgeport’s shootout attempts.
The Sharks improved to 5-1-0-1 in their last seven games and now sit one point back of both Manchester and Portland for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Michael Haley netted a pair of goals for the Sound Tigers, whose season-high three-game winning streak came to an end.
GRAND RAPIDS 4, TEXAS 2
Grand Rapids scored three times in the third period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory over visiting Texas on Sunday at Van Andel Arena, avenging a 4-3 loss to the Stars on Friday.
Veteran defenseman Doug Janik tied the game 2-2 at 10:51 of the third period, and then second-year pro Tomas Tatar put the Griffins on top to stay with his seventh goal of the season at 14:03. Jamie Johnson added an empty-netter in the closing minute.
Brandon Straub also scored for the Griffins, and goaltender Joey MacDonald earned the win with 22 saves on 24 shots.
Stars forward Travis Morin netted his team-leading 12th goal of the season and Raymond Sawada recorded Texas’ other goal. The Stars finished 2-1-0-0 on their three-game road weekend.
SPRINGFIELD 4, PROVIDENCE 1
Rookie Matt Calvert tallied his team-leading 12th and 13th goals of the season as Springfield got back on the winning track with a 4-1 road victory over Providence on Sunday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
The Falcons halted a four-game winless skid (0-3-1-0) and earned a split of their weekend home-and-home set with the Bruins.
Both of Calvert’s markers came in the second period, including the eventual game-winner at the 9:45 mark. It marked his first game-winning goal of the campaign.
Michael Ratchuk and defenseman Cody Goloubef also registered goals for the Falcons, and netminder David LeNeveu turned aside 35 of 36 shots in the winning effort.
Jamie Arniel notched the Bruins’ lone score of the afternoon, his team-best 11th on the year. Providence fell to 3-10-1-1 on home ice this season, compared with an 8-2-1-0 mark on the road.
BINGHAMTON 6, ROCHESTER 5 (SO)
Binghamton rallied back from a two-goal deficit in the closing minutes of regulation before prevailing in a shootout by a 6-5 count over host Rochester at the Blue Cross Arena.
Trailing 5-3 late in the third period, the Senators received goals from Erik Condra (17:19) and defenseman Derek Smith (19:07) to force the extra session.
After a scoreless overtime, Andre Benoit and Kaspars Daugavins netted shootout goals for the Senators while goaltender Barry Brust stopped five of Rochester’s six attempts. Brust made 28 saves through regulation and overtime.
Condra finished with a game-high four points (1-3-4) on the night, and Smith had three points (1-2-3). Corey Locke scored twice in regulation for Binghamton, and Benoit finished with a goal and a helper.
The Senators extended their points streak to three games (2-0-0-1) and climbed back to .500 overall at 12-12-2-2 (28 points).
Defenseman Mike Kostka paced the Americans with two goals and an assist, and Rochester also received scores from Chris Taylor (1-1-2) and defensemen Michael Caruso and Joe Callahan.
MILWAUKEE 2, OKLAHOMA CITY 1
Chris Mueller snapped a 1-1 deadlock at 1:39 of the third period, and Milwaukee held on for a 2-1 win over visiting Oklahoma City at the Bradley Center on Sunday.
Linus Klasen and Matthew Ford picked up assists on Mueller’s 12th goal of the season, which brings him within one of Klasen for the team lead in that category.
Liam Reddox gave the Barons a 1-0 first-period lead with his team-best 15th marker of the year, but Mark Santorelli brought the Admirals even midway through the second period, with Mueller earning on of the helpers.
Milwaukee rookie goaltender Jeremy Smith earned the win in net after stopping 23 of 24 shots.
Oklahoma City’s five-game points streak (3-0-0-2) came to an end as the Barons suffered their first regulation loss since a 5-2 setback at Texas on Nov. 30.
