HAMILTON 2, TORONTO 0
Rookie goaltender Cedrick Desjardins pitched a 29-save shutout as Hamilton stopped Toronto’s potent offense with a 2-0 win over the visiting Marlies on Friday at Copps Coliseum.
Desjardins (11-10-0) registered the Bulldogs’ league-leading 10th team shutout as Hamilton avenged a 7-1 loss to Toronto last Saturday.
The teams played scoreless hockey through the first two periods, but Bulldogs broke the deadlock 4:06 into the third framer with his 17th goal of the season. Sergei Kostitsyn and Yanick Lehoux earned helpers on the tally.
Ryan Russell then potted an empty-net tally in the closing seconds to seal the win. Lehoux also assisted on that marker, as did Kyle Chipchura.
Hamilton improved to 6-2-2-0 against Toronto this season and will host the Marlies again on Sunday afternoon.
Toronto, which has netted 51 goals in its last eight wins (6.4 gpg), has now been shut out in two of its last three losses.
BRIDGEPORT 6, BINGHAMTON 5
Bridgeport emerged from an offense-filled contest with a 6-5 win over division-rival Binghamton on Friday at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
Junior Lessard’s empty-net goal at 19:00 of the third period – his first tally as a member of the Sound Tigers – gave Bridgeport a 6-4 lead and turned out to be the difference. Binghamton defenseman Mattias Karlsson scored a power play marker 35 seconds later, but the Sens could not get the equalizer.
Tyler Haskins and defenseman Chris Lee each potted a goal and two assists for the Sound Tigers, while Jeremy Colliton, Trevor Smith, and Jon Sim also found the back of the net.
Kurtis McLean chipped in two assists, and goaltender Peter Mannino made 24 saves in net. The victory pushed the Sound Tigers (37-18-3-5) into sole possession of second place in the East Division, two points up on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Greg Mauldin registered a game-high three points (1-2-3) for the Senators, who stayed five points up on Philadelphia for the division’s final postseason berth. Binghamton is on its first three-game losing skid since a four-game slide (0-3-1-0) from Nov. 15-22.
WORCESTER 4, PHILADELPHIA 1
Worcester scored four unanswered goals en route to its first-ever win over Philadelphia, a 4-1 decision at the DCU Center. The Sharks entered with an 0-3-0-0 lifetime mark against the Phantoms, including a 7-1 loss in Philadelphia on Jan. 14.
Rookie Matt Fornataro scored twice and added an assist for the Sharks, while Tom Cavanagh (1-1-2) and Riley Armstrong also netted goals in the win.
Defenseman Jason Demers picked up two assists, and goaltender Taylor Dakers made 24 saves to pick up his first win since Jan. 31. Worcester remained three points back of Manchester for the Atlantic Division’s final playoff spot.
Boyd Kane initially gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead in the opening period.
NORFOLK 4, LOWELL 1
Blair Jones tallied a pair of goals to lead Norfolk to a 4-1 win over Lowell in the opener of the teams’ two-game set at the Scope.
Justin Keller and defenseman Mike Lundin also scored for the Admirals, and rookie goaltender Riku Helenius made 31 saves to improve to 6-7-0 in the AHL this season.
Alexander Vasyunov netted the lone goal on the night for the Devils, who dropped into sixth place in the Atlantic Division and four points back of Manchester for the fourth spot.
The Devils and Admirals will wrap up their season series on Saturday night in Norfolk.
MANCHESTER 1, HARTFORD 0 (OT)
Rookie defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov broke a scoreless deadlock 38 seconds into overtime, sending Manchester to a 1-0 win over visiting Hartford at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Brian Boyle and Trevor Lewis picked up assists on the goal, which was Voynov’s sixth of the season and second game-winner.
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier pitched a 24-save shutout for the Monarchs and has now stopped 99 of 102 (.971) shots during Manchester’s current four-game winning streak. The Monarchs increased their points streak to six games (5-0-0-1) and are now 12-3-0-1 since the beginning of February.
Matt Zaba was the tough-luck loser in the Hartford net, finishing with 31 saves on the night. The Wolf Pack’s seven-game winning streak came to an end.
LAKE ERIE 4, ROCHESTER 3
Lake Erie parlayed a four-goal second period into a 4-3 win over visiting Rochester on Friday before 8,826 fans at Quicken Loans Arena.
Monsters rookie T.J. Galiardi posted a goal and two assists in the victory, setting a season high with the three points. Chris Mueller, Randy Rowe, and Matt Hendricks also scored for the Monsters, and Mike McLean picked up two assists.
Rochester fell into a 4-1 hole after 40 minutes but attempted a comeback when Stefan Meyer and rookie Michal Repik lit the lamp just 44 seconds apart early in the third. David Brine had tallied a power play goal in the second period for the Amerks.
Lake Erie goaltender Jason Bacashihua made 25 saves to pick up his seventh straight win and help the Monsters move within seven points of a playoff spot in the North Division.
ALBANY 5, SPRINGFIELD 3
Rookie Ryan Weston and captain Pat Dwyer each scored twice to lead Albany over host Springfield by a 5-3 count at the MassMutual Center.
Dwyer netted a shorthanded and even-strength goal on the night, while Weston, who entered with five markers in 48 games this season, scored on the power play and into an empty net in the closing seconds.
Jakub Petruzalek added a goal for the River Rats, and defenseman Bryan Rodney chipped in a pair of assists. Goaltender Justin Peters earned the victory with 28 saves in net.
Colin McDonald, Charles Linglet, and Ryan Potulny all scored for the Falcons, who dropped their fifth game in a row.
SYRACUSE 4, WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 2
Syracuse rallied for three third-period goals to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Janne Pesonen gave the Penguins a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of first-period goals, his 20th and 21st markers of the season.
But Syracuse’s Derek MacKenzie cut the deficit in half midway through the second period, and Alexandre Picard tallied the equalizer just 43 seconds into the third. Trevor Frischmon followed with the go-ahead tally at 2:45, and Michael Bludnen added an empty-netter with a minute to go.
Syracuse picked up its league-leading 10th win of the season when trailing after two periods of play (10-20-1-1). The Crunch also pulled within three points of Toronto for a playoff spot in the North Division.
Crunch goaltender Dan LaCosta earned the victory with 41 saves between the pipes.
MILWAUKEE 4, IOWA 0
West Division-leading Milwaukee came back with its second win over Iowa in as many nights, this time by a 4-0 final at the Bradley Center.
Mike Santorelli netted a pair of goals for the Admirals, who also received tallies from Patric Hornqvist and Andreas Thuresson in securing their third straight victory overall.
Defensemen Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer each posted two assists, and goaltender Drew MacIntyre made 27 saves for his fourth shutout and league-leading 29th win of the campaign (29-11-2).
The Chops fell to 1-7-1-3 in their last 12 contests.
MILWAUKEE 4, IOWA 0
West Division-leading Milwaukee came back with its second win over Iowa in as many nights, this time by a 4-0 final at the Bradley Center.
Mike Santorelli netted a pair of goals for the Admirals, who also received tallies from Patric Hornqvist and Andreas Thuresson in securing their third straight victory overall.
Defensemen Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer each posted two assists, and goaltender Drew MacIntyre made 27 saves for his fourth shutout and league-leading 29th win of the campaign (29-11-2).
The Chops fell to 1-7-1-3 in their last 12 contests.
PEORIA 4, CHICAGO 2
Peoria doubled up Chicago by a 4-2 count on Friday at Carver Arena, improving to 4-4-0-0 this season against its intra-state rivals.
Julian Talbot posted a goal and an assist for the Rivermen, who also received scores from Ryan Reaves, Carl Corazzini, and Trent Whitfield.
Yan Stastny chipped in two assists on the night, and goaltender Manny Legace earned the victory with 29 saves on 31 shots.
Joey Crabb and rookie Spencer Machacek netted goals for the Wolves, whose four-game winning streak came to an end. Chicago is still in a three-way tie with Rockford and Houston for second place in the West Division race.
MANITOBA 3, PROVIDENCE 2 (SO)
Manitoba extended its winning streak to four games with a 3-2 shootout triumph over Providence on Friday before 8,800 fans at the MTS Centre.
Moose forwards Guillaume Desbiens and Jason Jaffray scored in the fourth and fifth rounds of the shootout, respectively. Goaltender Cory Schneider stopped three straight after allowing Mikko Lehtonen to convert Providence’s lone score in the second round.
Michael Grabner broke a nine-game goal-scoring drought by potting his team-leading 22nd and 23rd tallies of the season in regulation for the Moose. His second of the night came on the power play and was assisted by Desbiens and Jason Krog.
Kirk MacDonald and defenseman Jeff Penner scored in regulation for the Bruins, who are winless in a season-high four straight games (0-2-0-2).
