The Toronto Marlies bounced back from an overtime loss in Cleveland on Wednesday with a solid 4-1 victory over the San Antonio Rampage in front of 5489 fans at Ricoh Coliseum Friday night.
Ryan Hamilton and Mike Kostka each had a goal and an assist, Carter Ashton and Paul Ranger had goals and Spencer Abbott had two assists for the Marlies, who scored four times on Florida Panthers goaltending prospect Jacob Markstrom on just 16 shots.
Ben Scrivens made 30 saves for his tenth victory of the season and Toronto improved their record to 16-9-1-1 with the win.
Jared Gomes had the lone goal for San Antonio(10-17-2), who have lost six games in a row and have lost twice to the Marlies this season.
San Antonio took the early lead as a Mike Kostka pass behind his own net was intercepted, leading to a three way passing play and Gomes cashing in his fifth of the season on a rebound. Toronto replied late in the period, as Hamilton beat a Rampage defender to a loose puck and maneuvered around Markstrom to tie the game.
With the goal, Hamilton reached a career milestone, becoming the Marlies’ all-time leader in goals with 75, eclipsing winger Jeremy Williams.
Toronto took the lead for good nearing the halfway mark of the game, as Ashton batted the puck past a San Antonio defenseman to start a two-on-one break, he rushed in, used linemate Matt Frattin as a decoy and quickly snapped a shot inside the far post. Kostka lengthened the lead to two goals late in the middle frame, as Abbott’s backhand pass found the Marlies blueliner in the slot.
Ranger scored his fourth goal of the season on a power play late in the third, to ice away the victory.
Toronto moves to within two points of first place Abbotsford in the AHL’s North Division and will face the St. John’s IceCaps on Saturday at 3pm.
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