Kolarik, Tenute help Rampage earn a split in Toronto


Friday’s Boxscores

SAN ANTONIO 6, TORONTO 3
San Antonio cruised to a 6-3 road win over Toronto on Friday at Ricoh Coliseum to even their North Division Semifinal at a game apiece. 2008 AHL All-Star Joey Tenute netted a pair of goals, and rookie Chad Kolarik – just eight days removed from an NCAA Frozen Four appearance with Michigan – tallied a hat trick in his second pro game for the Rampage.

It marked the sixth-year Rampage’s first-ever Calder Cup Playoff victory, snapping an 0-4 skid.

San Antonio’s Matt Murley scored the game’s only first-period goal, and the Rampage then struck three times in a 5:40 span to begin the second. Tenute, a 2006 Calder Cup champion with Hershey, scored both of his goals in that stretch and Kolarik netted his first.

Marlies forward Ben Ondrus cut the lead to 4-1 at 9:52, only to have Kolarik respond just 26 seconds later with his second of the night.

Jay Harrison and Bates Battaglia potted third-period markers for the Marlies, but Kolarik finished off the hat trick with 7:50 to play.

Rampage goaltender Josh Tordjman picked up the victory with 23 saves. San Antonio will host the next three games of the series, beginning with Game 3 on Monday.


PHILADELPHIA 3, ALBANY 0
Philadelphia scored a pair of goals in the second period and cruised to a 3-0 win over Albany at the Wachovia Center, evening their East Division Semifinal series at a game apiece.

After a scoreless first period, Jared Ross and Pete Zingoni netted second-period goals for the Phantoms. Ross scored on the power play, while Zingoni’s goal came right off a face-off with less than 13 seconds to play in the stanza.

Boyd Kane tallied an empty-netter late in the third period, and Stefan Ruzicka had a pair of assists in the winning effort.

Phantoms goaltender Scott Munroe picked up the shutout with 18 saves, just two nights after Albany’s Michael Leighton turned in a shutout performance in Game 1 of the series.

The teams will play Game 3 on Sunday afternoon, also at the Wachovia Center.


PROVIDENCE 2, MANCHESTER 0
Providence netted a pair of late goals and rookie Tuukka Rask made 21 saves for his first career playoff shutout as the Bruins took a 2-0 win over Manchester at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The Bruins now lead the Atlantic Division Semifinal series, 2-0.

The teams played scoreless hockey until 16:54 of the third period, when Jordan Knackstedt netted his first professional playoff goal to put the B’s on top.

Pascal Pelletier added an empty-netter with 40 seconds remaining to seal the win.

The series now shifts to Manchester for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday. The Bruins went 4-0-0-0 at the Verizon Wireless Arena during the regular season.


SYRACUSE 2, MANITOBA 1 (OT)
2008 AHL All-Star Joakim Lindstrom scored just 30 seconds into overtime to give Syracuse a 2-1 comeback victory over visiting Manitoba in Game 1 of their North Division Semifinal.

After a scoreless first period, Manitoba’s Juraj Simek gave his club a 1-0 lead at 5:14 of the second period.

But Crunch defenseman David Cullen tied it with a power play goal at 7:04 of the third period, which wound up forcing overtime.

Cullen picked up an assist on Lindstrom’s game-winner, as Syracuse captured its 16th straight victory dating back to the regular season.

Syracuse goaltender Karl Goehring picked up the win with 29 saves on 30 shots.

The teams get right back at it for Game 2 on Saturday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.


ROCKFORD 3, HOUSTON 1
Troy Brouwer’s goal at 8:22 of the third period broke a 1-1 tie and lifted Rockford to a 3-1 win over Houston at the MetroCentre in Game 1 of their West Division Semifinal.

The IceHogs struck first on a goal by Gavin Morgan just 1:56 into the second period, but Houston’s Jeff Hamilton netted the equalizer at 8:26.

The game remained knotted a 1-1 until Brouwer’s third-period marker. Brouwer tallied a team-high 35 goals for Rockford in the regular season.

Martin St. Pierre secured the victory with a late empty-net goal, and Corey Crawford made 18 saves between the pipes for the IceHogs.

Rockford hosts Game 2 of the series on Saturday.


CHICAGO 2, MILWAUKEE 1
Jesse Schultz tallied the game-winner at 5:54 of the third period as Chicago eked out a 2-1 win over Milwaukee at Allstate Arena to even their West Division Semifinal at 1-1.

Schultz’s goal came only 27 seconds after Milwaukee forward John Laliberte had scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Kevin Doell scored in the first period for the Wolves, and rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec made 26 saves for his first career playoff victory.

Two-time AHL All-Star goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 36 shots in the losing effort for the Admirals, who will host Game 3 on Sunday at the Bradley Center.