Pogge, Wozniewski help Marlies edge Aeros, 1-0


Sunday’s Boxscores

TORONTO 1, HOUSTON 0
Defenseman Andy Wozniewski broke a scoreless tie with his first AHL goal of the season at 14:37 of the third period, and goaltender Justin Pogge turned in a 33-save shutout performance as Toronto blanked visiting Houston, 1-0, on Sunday at Ricoh Coliseum.

It marked Pogge’s third shutout of the season and the North-leading Marlies’ second in as many days. Pogge improved his season record to 18-4-4.

Toronto, which posted a 3-0 win over Hamilton on Saturday behind 30 saves by Scott Clemmensen, moved to 33-11-1-4 overall on the campaign.

The game remained scoreless through the first two periods, as Pogge and the Marlies withstood a 17-shot Houston attack in the opening stanza alone.

Wozniewski’s goal late in the third was assisted by Alex Foster and Ben Ondrus.

Nolan Schaefer, a 2008 AHL All-Star, stopped 27 of 28 shots in the losing effort for the Aeros, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.


PHILADELPHIA 3, PROVIDENCE 2
Philadelphia rookie Jonathan Matsumoto scored a pair of goals as the Phantoms posted a 3-2 road win over league-leading Providence at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Chris Collins gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 19:31 of the first period, but Matsumoto responded for Philadelphia just nine seconds later.

Matsumoto and Denis Tolpeko went on to give the Phantoms a 3-1 advantage by the midway point of the third period. Providence’s Nate Thompson brought the B’s within a goal with 6:39 to play, but they were unable to get the equalizer.

With the win, the Phantoms avenged a 6-3 loss to the Bruins when the teams met in Philadelphia on Oct. 20.

Matsumoto posted his second multiple-goal game of the season, having also netted a pair at Bridgeport on Jan. 26.

Philadelphia goaltender Brian Boucher earned the win with 41 saves, including 31 over the final two periods. The Phantoms won two of their three road games against Atlantic Division teams this weekend.


CHICAGO 2, MANITOBA 0
Goaltender Robert Gherson posted 21 saves for a shutout as Chicago won its fourth straight game, 2-0 over visiting Manitoba at the Allstate Arena.

Bryan Little and Jason Krog notched goals for the Wolves, who secured their second shutout in their last three contests. Rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec blanked Iowa by a 3-0 count on Friday.

Little’s goal at 13:36 of the first period gave Chicago a 1-0 lead, and the Wolves nursed that advantage until Krog provided insurance with an empty-net marker late in the third.

2008 AHL All-Star Drew MacIntyre took the loss with 24 saves for the Moose, who finished 4-1-0-0 on a four-game road swing through the West Division.


HERSHEY 6, WORCESTER 4
A three-goal second period was key as Hershey posted a 6-4 victory over visiting Worcester before 8,919 fans at the Giant Center.

Jay Beagle and 2008 AHL All-Star Joe Motzko had a pair of goals apiece for the Bears. Scott Barney also scored, and Ben Clymer added an empty-netter in the closing minute.

Hershey goaltender Daren Machesney made 26 saves and improved to 16-3-2 on the season.

With the win, the Bears moved to 6-1-0-2 in their last nine games and took sole possession of second place in the tight East Division race.

The Sharks received goals from captain Graham Mink and rookies Devin Setoguchi, Nate Raduns, and T.J. Fox.


MILWAUKEE 3, PEORIA 2
Milwaukee scored three times in the second period on its way to a 3-2 victory over visiting Peoria before 5,733 fans at the Bradley Center.

John Vigilante, Mike Santorelli, and defenseman Cody Franson all netted goals for the Admirals, and 2008 AHL All-Star goaltender Pekka Rinne made the offense stand up with 23 saves in net.

Chris Porter and Charles Linglet each tallied an unassisted goal for Peoria, one apiece in the second and third periods.

The victory snapped Milwaukee’s four-game losing skid, while the Rivermen had their winless skid extended to six games (0-5-1-0).


ROCHESTER 1, GRAND RAPIDS 0
Goaltender Adam Dennis made 33 saves for a shutout and Marc-Andre Gragnani tallied a shorthanded goal as Rochester edged visiting Grand Rapids, 1-0, at the Blue Cross Arena.

Gragnani’s sixth goal of the season came unassisted at 16:33 of the second period, and it stood up as the only offense for either side.

Dennis posted his third shutout and improved to 12-15-2 on the season.

The Americans, who defeated San Antonio on Saturday, have secured their first two-game winning streak since Nov. 23-30.


QUAD CITY 4, ROCKFORD 3
Quad City jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first period and had to hold on for a 4-3 victory over visiting Rockford at the I Wireless Center.

Cam Cunning, Brandon Prust, David Van der Gulik, and Derek Couture all tallied first-period goals for the Flames.

The IceHogs fought back into the game, cutting their deficit in half on second-period markers by Kris Versteeg and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Versteeg scored again in the third, this time unassisted, but Rockford was unable to get the tying goal.

Flames goaltender Matt Keetley made 24 saves and upped his record to 8-6-2 for the campaign.

The IceHogs, who are now 0-4-1-0 in their last five outings, will welcome Quad City to the MetroCentre for a rematch on Friday.