Ondrus leads streaking Marlies over Monsters, 6-1


Sunday’s AHL Boxscores

TORONTO 6, LAKE ERIE 1
Ben Ondrus tallied his first hat trick of the season and finished plus-4 on the afternoon as Toronto posted a 6-1 win over visiting Lake Erie on Sunday at Ricoh Coliseum.

The victory extended the North Division-leading Marlies’ points streak to nine games (8-0-0-1), their longest since opening the campaign with a 13-game run (11-0-0-2).

Ondrus opened the game’s scoring just 39 seconds into the contest and made it 2-0 at 4:47. Patrick Wellar tallied his first career AHL goal at 11:42, and Andy Wozniewski extended the lead to 4-0 at 17:14.

Toronto’s Bates Battaglia and Lake Erie’s Jamie Lundmark exchanged second-period markers, and Ondrus closed the game’s scoring and completed his hat trick at 10:38 of the third.

Robbie Earl chipped in three assists for the Marlies, and goaltender Justin Pogge (24-9-4) stopped 27 of 28 shots in the winning effort.

Toronto finished 6-1-0-1 against the Monsters this season.


MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 3 (SO)
Jason Guerriero netted a pair of shootout goals and Matt Ellison tallied the decisive marker in the seventh round to give Milwaukee a 4-3 win over visiting Houston before 9,184 fans at the Bradley Center.

Mike Santorelli, Antti Pihlstrom, and John Vigilante all scored in regulation for the Admirals, who moved a point ahead of the Aeros and idle San Antonio for third place in the West Division race.

Admirals goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris picked up the victory with 17 saves on 20 shots.

Houston’s Ryan Hamilton lit the lamp twice in regulation, including the game-tying goal with 2:08 left in the third period. Ross Carlson also scored for the Aeros, and Shawn Belle had both of his club’s shootout markers.


MANCHESTER 5, HERSHEY 2
Manchester scored three times in the third period, turning a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 road win over Hershey before 8,373 fans at the Giant Center.

Teddy Purcell netted the eventual game-winner for the Monarchs 13:26 into the third, giving the AHL’s rookie scoring leader a point in seven straight games (4-7-11).

Manchester’s David Meckler and Brian Boyle added empty-net goals, securing the win for goaltender Jonathan Quick, who stopped 31 of 33 shots.

The teams exchanged goals through the first two periods. Brady Murray scored twice for Manchester, and the Bears received markers from Josef Boumedienne and Kyle Wilson.

With the victory, Manchester opened up a five-point edge on Springfield for the Atlantic Division’s fourth and final playoff spot.


HARTFORD 4, BRIDGEPORT 3 (SO)
Lauri Korpikoski netted a goal in regulation and scored the decisive shootout marker as Hartford completed a perfect weekend with a 4-3 road win over Bridgeport before 8,191 fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Jordan Owens also scored in the shootout for the Wolf Pack, while Greg Moore and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau joined Korpikoski with regulation goals. Parenteau added a pair of helpers for a three-point effort.

Wolf Pack goaltender Miika Wiikman made 33 saves through the first 65 minutes and stopped five of six in the shootout to pick up the win.

Ben Walter and Trevor Smith gave Bridgeport a 2-0 lead just one minute after the opening face-off, and Jamie Fraser scored in the third period.

Hartford moved to 7-0-0-1 in its last eight games and now has 101 points on the season (46-19-2-7), the fourth time in the last five campaigns that the Wolf Pack have reached the 100-point plateau.


PORTLAND 2, ALBANY 0
Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 25 saves for his third shutout in eight games for Portland this season as the Pirates dropped Albany, 2-0, at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Jason King and Tyler Bouck netted goals for the Pirates. Both markers came on the power play in the second period.

The victory enabled Portland to snap a season-high four-game losing streak. On the other hand, Albany’s four-game points streak (3-0-1-0) came to an end.


PROVIDENCE 5, WORCESTER 3
Byron Bitz tallied a pair of goals and added an assist as Providence dropped struggling Worcester by a 5-3 final in front of 7,477 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Pascal Pelletier also had three points (1-2-3) for the Bruins, while Aaron Slattengren and T.J. Trevelyan rounded out the scoring.

Bruins goaltender Jordan Sigalet picked up the win with 25 saves, helping Providence reach the 50-win mark (50-16-3-4) for the first time since 1998-99, when the B’s won the Calder Cup.

Tom Walsh, Derek Joslin, and Matt Jones netted goals for the Sharks, who are 0-4-1-0 in their last five games.


CHICAGO 6, GRAND RAPIDS 4
Chicago scored five goals in the game’s first 16:36 and had to hold on for a 6-4 win over visiting Grand Rapids before 8,229 fans at the Allstate Arena.

Joe Motzko, Jesse Schultz, and Kevin Doell all had a goal and an assist for the Wolves. Chad Painchaud tallied his first career AHL goal, and 2006-07 AHL rookie of the year Brett Sterling rounded out Chicago’s scoring.

Brian Fahey chipped in a pair of assists, and rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec picked up the win with 31 saves.

Evan McGrath paced the Griffins with two goals and a helper. Trailing 6-1 entering the third period, Grand Rapids clawed back to make it a game. McGrath scored at 1:54, and Jason Jozsa and Zack Torquato each tallied their first career AHL goal.

The Griffins were unable to get closer, though, and fell to 1-7-0-1 in their last nine outings.


ROCKFORD 3, IOWA 2
Rockford rallied for three third-period goals and edged visiting Iowa by a 3-2 count at the MetroCentre.

Iowa’s Tom Wandell scored the game’s only goal through the first 40 minutes at 9:42 of the second period.

The IceHogs’ offense came to life in the third, as Tyson Marsh, Colin Fraser, and Jack Skille all scored in the period’s first 5:09 to make it a 3-1 game.

Perttu Lindgren brought the Stars within a goal at 13:48, but Iowa was unable to find the equalizer.

Rockford maintained a three-point lead on Milwaukee for second place in the West Division.


HAMILTON 5, PHILADELPHIA 3
Hamilton scored three times in the first period and cruised to a 5-3 win over host Philadelphia before 8,145 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum, snapping a franchise-record 12-game winless skid (0-10-1-1).

The Bulldogs last claimed a victory on March 1, when they defeated Hershey by a 3-2 final.

Matt D’Agostini had a game-high three points (1-2-3) for Hamilton. He combined with Kyle Chipchura and Brock Trotter to give the Bulldogs’ their 3-0 first-intermission lead.

Hamilton’s Eric Manlow scored in the second period, and Duncan Milroy potted an empty-netter in the game’s closing minute. Hamilton finished 2-for-12 on the power play in the contest.

Bulldogs goaltender Yann Danis picked up the win with 36 saves on 39 shots.

Ryan Potulny scored twice and Triston Grant once for the Phantoms, who stay one point back of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the East Division’s top spot.


ROCHESTER 4, BINGHAMTON 3 (SO)
Stefan Meyer tied the game with just 10 seconds left in regulation, and Rochester went on to a 4-3 shootout win over Binghamton at the Blue Cross Arena.

Marc-Andre Gragnani and Clarke MacArthur netted shootout goals for the Amerks, and goaltender Adam Dennis stopped seven of eight Binghamton attempts after making 33 saves through regulation and overtime.

Rookie Nick Foligno netted a pair of goals in regulation for Binghamton, and defenseman Derek Smith added a shorthanded marker, which at the time gave the Senators a 3-1 lead at 12:06 of the second period.

Drew Larman pulled the Amerks within a goal just 1:46 later, setting the stage for Meyer’s late game-tying marker. 2008 AHL All-Star Mark Mancari lit the lamp for Rochester earlier in the game.

Binghamton goaltender Brian Elliott made 29 saves in the losing effort.