Marlies March Over Penguins

Stalberg’s four point night gives Marlies fifth win of the season.

(TORONTO)- A four point night from Viktor Stalberg helped the Marlies get past the W-B/Scranton Penguins by a score of 4-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Christian Hanson’s second goal of the night held up as the game winner as the Marlies recorded their fifth win of the season in front of 2,768 fans at Ricoh Coliseum.

After the Penguins took a pair of penalties in the first period, the line of Stalberg, Mike Zigomanis and Hanson connected on the power-play to put the Marlies ahead 1-0.

Hanson parked himself in front of the Penguins net, hopped on a rebound and banged in his fourth goal of the season. Zigomanis and Stalberg each picked up an assist on the power-play marker.

James Reimer starting in his third game of the season made several key saves to keep the Penguins off the score sheet in the first.

The Penguins tied the game at 6:40 of the second period. Penguins’ defenseman Ben Lovejoy threw the puck on net where Tim Wallace tipped it past the Marlies netminder.

Toronto responded shortly after when Stalberg buried his first career AHL goal to make it 2-1. Zigomanis sent Stalberg in all alone on a breakaway and Stalberg fired it past Thiessen’s right shoulder to give the Marlies the lead. Juraj Mikus collected the second assist on the goal.

Zigomanis is currently riding a five game point streak. In four of the past five games he has recorded multi point nights. He’s notched 10 assists in five games since joining the Marlies.

The Penguins tied the game late in the second period on a goal by Ryan Bayda.

With under five minutes remaining in the third period, Hanson scored his second of the night to give Toronto the 3-2 lead.
Stalberg’s burst of speed down the left hand side started the play and then passed it to Hanson who was wide open in front of the Penguins goal.

Stalberg added an empty net goal for his second of the evening. He was named the game’s first star, registering four points on the night (two goals, two assists).

Hanson's two-goal performance ties him with Mike Zigomanis for the team high with 10 points each.

Stalberg has recorded five points in two games with the Marlies since being reassigned by the Maple Leafs on Thursday afternoon.

The loss was the Penguins first regulation defeat in their past six games.

The Marlies hit the road for a six game road trip which begins in Cleveland when they take on the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Quicken Loans Arena.


ICE CHIPS: Since being reassigned by the Maple Leafs, Stalberg has registered five points in two games...Zigomanis has recorded an assist in every game since joining the Marlies...The Marlies broke an 0-for-11 goal-less streak on the power play...Stalberg’s four point night is a 2009 Marlies season high...Mikus has notched a point in back-to-back games for Toronto...The Marlies were out-shot in the game 36-28.


SCORING SUMMARY

First Period
1. TOR Hanson (3) (Zigomanis, Stalberg) 12:19 PP

Second Period
1. W-B/S Wallace (3) (Lovejoy, Smith) 6:40
2. TOR Stalberg (1) (Zigomanis, Mikus) 12:52
2. W-B/S Bayda (6) (Jeffrey) 17:01

Third Period
3. TOR Hanson (4) (Stalberg, Zigomanis) 14:02
4. TOR Stalberg (2) 19:58 PP - EN

Three Stars
1. TOR Victor Stalberg
2. TOR Christian Hanson
3. W-B/S Luca Caputi

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com