Link to Wednesday’s boxscores
TORONTO 3, ALBANY 2
Derrick Walser scored twice and Alex Foster snapped a 2-2 tie with 10:54 left in regulation as Toronto posted a 3-2 win over Albany in the first-ever meeting between the teams on Wednesday night.
Walser, who had a six-game stint as a member of the River Rats in 2006-07, now has 12 points (6g, 6a) in eight games this season, tops among all AHL defensemen.
Dave Gove put Albany on the board first at 6:48 of the opening period with his third goal of the season, assisted by Jamie Johnson and Pat Dwyer. But the Marlies stormed right back as Walser scored a power-play goal from just inside the blue line at 8:14. It was the first goal allowed by Albany since the second period of their Oct. 24 home game against Syracuse, ending the River Rats’ franchise-record shutout streak at 165:37.
Despite being outshot 28-7 through the first 40 minutes, Albany and goaltender Michael Leighton were able to keep the Marlies within striking distance. However, Walser scored his second goal of the night just after another Toronto power play expired at 18:49 of the second period, putting the visitors in the lead for the first time, 2-1.
In the third period, Brandon Nolan buried a wrist shot past former Rats goalie Scott Clemmensen at 1:51, tying the game at 2-2. Foster’s unassisted shorthanded goal at 9:06 capped the scoring.
Toronto improved to 7-0-0-1 on the season with the victory.
SAN ANTONIO 5, SYRACUSE 3
Bill Thomas scored two goals and assisted on Bryan Helmer‘s game-winner as San Antonio posted a 5-3 win over visiting Syracuse.
Helmer and Thomas scored 18 seconds apart midway through the third period to break open a 3-3 tie.
Joel Perrault and Matt Murley had a goal and an assist each for the Rampage and Josh Tordjman made 29 saves as San Antonio improved to 4-1-0-1 at the AT&T Center this season.
Kris Beech scored twice in the loss for the Crunch. Rookie Derick Brassard had two assists to assume the AHL’s overall scoring lead with 16 points.
MANITOBA 3, QUAD CITY 2 (SO)
Juraj Simek scored in the eighth shootout round to give Manitoba a 3-2 win at Quad City on Wednesday night.
Colby Genoway scored once in regulation and once in the shootout for the Moose, who have won three of four on the road this season. Drew MacIntyre earned the win in net, stopping 30 of 32 shots plus seven of eight shootout attempts.
Dustin Boyd and Warren Peters scored for the Flames, who fell to 1-3-0-2 in their last six games.
