CLEVELAND – Matt Frattin scored twice in the first period as the Toronto Marlies raced out to an early lead to dispatch the Lake Erie Monsters 6-2 in American Hockey League play Thursday.
Mike Zigomanis, Joe Colborne and Jerry D’Amigo also scored in the opening period as Toronto (23-15-5) jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. Will Acton added a goal in the third period.
D’Amigo’s goal was a short-handed score.
Adrian Foster and Brad Malone both scored in the first for Lake Erie (19-22-3), which has lost seven of its last 10 games.
Ben Scrivens made 22 saves to earn the win for the Marlies.
Gerald Coleman stopped three of the seven shots he faced in 17:31 of work in the Monsters’ net. He was pulled after Frattin’s second goal in favour of James Reid, who made 18 saves on 20 shots.
It was a rough matchup with several 10-minute misconducts and fighting majors handed out. Toronto was penalized a total of 30 minutes, Lake Erie spent 45 minutes in the penalty box.
The Marlies went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Monsters went 1-for-3.
Toronto remains in first in the North division, while Lake Erie is in last. The Marlies are third in the Western Conference.
