The Toronto Marlies took advantage of its home ice and nine power play opportunities to deal the Rochester Americans their first loss of the season by a score of 3-1. Over 7,000 fans filled the Ricoh Coliseum and watched their 2012 Western Conference champs score three power play goals and start the season off with an important divisional win.
The first period was dominated by the Marlies, outscoring the amerks 2-0, with both tallies coming while Rochester was short handed. Amerk’s Nick Tarnasky took a holding penalty at the 4:52 mark of the period, and 25 seconds later, Jake Gardiner put Toronto up 1-0 with assists from Nazem Kadri and Mike Kostka. The Marlies second goal of the period came on a pretty passing play from Mike Zigomanis and Joe Colborne with Ryan Hamilton getting the easy tap in and his first goal of the year.
After killing off the remains of a T. J. Brennan cross checking penalty from the first period, the Amerks showed some spark of their own to start the second period. Marcus Foligno scored his second goal of the year 42 seconds after Toronto goalie Ben Scrivens took a delay of game penalty. The rest of the period was played much more evenly than the first, with each team having some descent scoring chances.
Steady goaltending from both goalies, the Amerks David Leggio and the Marlies Ben Scrivens, kept the game close for most of the third period. Rochester’s Zemgus Girgensons joined the parade to the penalty box for the Amerks at 6:29 of the final period when he took an interference penalty. a minute later, Ryan Hamilton scored his second of the game with assists from Mike Kostka and Jake Gardiner to put the game out of reach 3-1.
Next up for the Rochester Americans is a Tuesday night contest at the Blue Cross Arena with the Binghamton Senators, farm team of the Ottawa Senators. The Toronto Marlies stay at home to play a Sunday afternoon game against the Lake Erie Monsters.