SAN ANTONIO 3, SYRACUSE 2
San Antonio rallied from two goals down to capture a 3-2 win over visiting Syracuse on Wednesday at the AT&T Center.
The Rampage captured their third straight win overall and their fifth in a row over the Crunch on home ice. San Antonio has not dropped a home tilt to Syracuse since a 5-3 setback on Jan. 25, 2004.
Syracuse scored the game’s first goal for the third straight contest when captain Derek MacKenzie struck 14:32 into the opening period, and Mike Radja scored his marker of the season nine minutes into the second frame to make it a 2-0 game.
But just two minutes later, Chad Kolarik notched a power play goal to cut San Antonio’s deficit in half, and Kyle Turris tied it with another man-advantage goal later in the second.
The Rampage finished off the comeback with almost exactly 11 minutes remaining in regulation when 2010 AHL All-Star defenseman Sean Sullivan’s floater from the point was deflected in by Stefan Meyer.
Brett MacLean chipped in two assists for San Antonio, and goaltender Justin Pogge picked up the victory with 32 saves on 34 shots.
ADIRONDACK 4, ALBANY 2
2010 AHL All-Star Jon Matsumoto registered a goal and two assists as Adirondack doubled up host Albany by a 4-2 count on Wednesday at the Times Union Center.
Rookie defenseman Joonas Lehtivuori notched his first professional goal for the Phantoms, who also received tallies from David Laliberte and ex-River Rat Joey Mormina.
Lehtivuori, Laliberte, and Mormina each finished with a goal and an assist in the victory, and Andreas Nodl chipped in a pair of helpers. Matsumoto’s three-point night gives him a team-leading 28 points (14-14-28) in 31 games for the season.
Phantoms goaltender Johan Backlund earned the victory with 17 saves between the pipes, as his club defeated Albany for the first time in five tries this year.
Rookie Zach Boychuk posted a goal and an assist for the River Rats, and Mike Angelidis also found the back of the net.
HARTFORD 5, SPRINGFIELD 3
Ryan Garlock’s third-period shorthanded goal turned out to be the game-winner as Hartford rallied for a 5-3 win over visiting Springfield on Wednesday at the XL Center.
Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau stayed hot since his return to the AHL, recording a goal and two assists in the winning effort. Dane Byers and Derek Couture struck 17 seconds apart in the second period, and Michael Sauer rounded out the Wolf Pack’s offensive attack.
2010 AHL All-Star Corey Locke chipped in two assists for Hartford, and goaltender Steve Valiquette earned the win with 25 saves in net.
The Falcons initially jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on a pair of goals by Ryan O’Marra, the first of them coming shorthanded and the second with just eight seconds left in the frame.
Rob Hisey registered his second goal in as many days for Springfield, which is now winless in 17 straight games (0-12-4-1).
TORONTO 3, PEORIA 2
Juraj Mikus’ shot caromed off the boards and into the net early in the third period, and it proved to be the game-winning goal as Toronto eked out a 3-2 win over visiting Peoria at Ricoh Coliseum.
The Marlies had built a 2-0 lead entering the third frame, as Greg Scott and Ben Gordon lit the lamp less than three minutes apart in the opening period. Scott registered a power play goal at 6:08, and Gordon converted a 2-on-1 at the 9:04 mark.
After a scoreless second, Mikus’ goal made it a 3-0 game. It proved to be the decisive tally when Rivermen forwards Julian Talbot and Adam Cracknell scored later in the third, the latter marker coming with Peoria goaltender Hannu Toivonen on the bench for an extra attacker.
But the Rivermen were unable to get the equalizer and wrapped up a five-game road swing at 3-2-0-0.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 6, BINGHAMTON 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton captain Wyatt Smith notched a pair of goals and added an assist as the Penguins doubled up visiting Binghamton by a 6-3 count on Wednesday at the Wachovia Arena.
Chris Lee, Mark Letestu, Luca Caputi, and Eric Tangradi also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who captured their season-high fourth consecutive victory. Tangardi recorded his second game-winning goal in as many nights.
Captain Denis Hamel netted a power play goal for the Senators, while Kaspars Daugavins and Drew Bannister notched a pair of even-strength markers just 35 seconds apart in the third frame.
HAMILTON 4, ROCHESTER 1
Hamilton jumped back atop the North Division standings with a 4-1 win over visiting Rochester on Wednesday at Copps Coliseum.
The Bulldogs (21-8-2-3, 47 points) jumped one point ahead of the Americans (22-11-2-0, 46 points) for first place in the North and improved to 9-4-1-1 on home ice this season.
J.T. Wyman and Mikael Johansson each posted a goal and an assist for the Bulldogs, who also received tallies from Mathieu Darche and Brock Trotter.
Defenseman Yannick Weber chipped in two assists in the victory, and 2010 AHL All-Star goaltender Cedrick Desjardins earned the victory for Hamilton with 24 saves on 25 shots in net.
Veteran forward Chris Taylor notched the Amerks’ lone goal in the second period, with assists going to Evgeny Dadonov and 2010 AHL All-Star defenseman Keaton Ellerby.
CHICAGO 5, HOUSTON 1
Chicago tallied a pair of goals in the second period and added three more in the third en route to a 5-1 win over visiting Houston on Wednesday at Allstate Arena.
Anthony Stewart posted a goal and an assist for the Wolves, while Andrew Kozek, Nathan Oystrick, Tim Stapleton, and Joey Crabb also found the back of the net.
Veteran defenseman Chris Chelios chipped in two assists in the victory, and Chicago goaltender Peter Mannino secured the win with 22 saves on 23 shots in net.
Jean-Michel Daoust tallied his 12th goal of the season for the Aeros, who were opening a stretch that has them playing three road games in as many nights. Houston visits Rockford on Thursday before concluding the stretch in Milwaukee on Friday.