TORONTO 4, HAMILTON 3
Toronto defeated Hamilton, 4-3, in the teams’ preseason opener at a sold-out Central Recreation Centre in Burlington, Ont., on Wednesday night.
Alex Foster, Colin Murphy and John Mitchell scored 3:26 apart to give the Marlies a 3-0 lead in the first period, and Darryl Boyce added what proved to be the final margin at 3:56 of the third.
Francis Lemieux led the Bulldogs with a goal and two assists. Cory Urquhart and Ryan Russell also scored for Hamilton.
Justin Pogge stopped 18 of 21 shots for Toronto, while Cedric Desjardins (23 saves, 3 GA) and Loic Lacasse (5 saves, 1 GA) split time in the crease for Hamilton.
MILWAUKEE 8, CHICAGO 4
James Sixsmith and Shane Willis each scored twice as Milwaukee opened its preseason with an 8-4 win over Chicago in Vernon Hills, Ill.
Antti Pihlstrom added a goal and three assists for the Admirals, Andrew Martin had a goal and two assists and Tyler Howells and Oliver Stezinger added single goals.
Dov Grumet-Morris (12 saves) and Jamie Hodson (7 saves) each allowed two goals in the Milwaukee net.
Colton Fretter, Kory Karlander, Jordan Fox and Tomas Pospisil scored for the Wolves. Dan Turple (3 GA on 16 shots) and Craig Kowalski (5 GA, 15 shots) split the goaltending chores.
QUAD CITY 4, PEORIA 2
Gerry Burke scored a pair of goals to lead Quad City to a 4-2 win at Peoria in the preseason opener for both teams.
Kris Chucko and David Van der Gulik also scored for the Flames, while Matt Keetley went the distance and stopped 22 of 24 shots.
F.P. Guenette and Josh Gorges scored for the Rivermen. Chris Beckford-Tseu (8 saves) allowed three goals, and Mike McKenna (7 saves) surrendered the fourth.
PROVIDENCE 4, SPRINGFIELD 3
Wacey Rabbit and Vladimir Sobotka each recorded a goal and an assist in Providence’s 4-3 victory over Springfield at the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday.
Rabbit scored his goal on a penalty shot and Byron Bitz broke a 3-3 tie with 9:22 remaining in regulation. Alexandre Imbeault also scored for the Bruins, who got 22 saves from Mike Brown.
Justin Chwedoruk, Stephane Goulet and Andy Contois scored for the Falcons.
BRIDGEPORT 3, HARTFORD 1
Bridgeport opened its 2007 preseason with a 3-1 win over in-state rival Hartford in Stamford, Conn., on Wednesday.
Rob Sirianni and Trevor Smith scored in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Sean Offers also scored for Bridgeport.
Tom Pyatt had the lone goal for the Wolf Pack.
HERSHEY 4, BINGHAMTON 2
Kyle Wilson scored twice to help Hershey to a 4-2 win in Binghamton in a preseason matinee on Wednesday.
Scott Barney and Paul McIlveen scored the Bears’ other goals, Sasha Pokulok recorded three assists and Daren Machesney stopped all 25 shots he faced over two periods.
Tyler Donati and Chase Watson scored for the Senators.