(TORONTO) – The Marlies playoff hopes took a turn towards the negative on Friday night. The Manitoba Moose dealt Toronto a deadly blow by beating the Marlies 3-1 at Ricoh Coliseum.

 

The Marlies entered the game just five points behind the Moose for the final playoff spot in the North Division.

 

The Moose struck first late in the opening period when Kevin Clark swatted in his second of the season past James Reimer. Clark’s goal came with just under three minutes to go in the first period.

 

Mario Bliznak added a goal in both the second and third periods for the Moose to put them ahead 3-0.

 

The Marlies battled hard in the third period and it paid off with four minutes remaining in regulation. Ben Ondrus put Toronto on the board with a shot that hit just under the cross-bar. Ryan Hamilton and Greg Scott both collected assists on Ondrus’ seventh of the season.

 

The assist by Hamilton extended his point streak to four games (two goals, two assists).

 

The Marlies spent the final three minutes with the net empty for the sixth attacked but couldn’t beat Cory Schneider for a second time.

 

Toronto out-shot the Moose 16-3 in the final stanza.

 

James Reimer made 27 saves in the loss.

 

Toronto hosts the Moose again tomorrow afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum at 4:00 p.m.