Toronto Battles Back From Being Down 3-0 In First Period

(ROCHESTER, NY) - The Marlies never quit attitude was on display again in Rochester on Friday night in the final road game of the season.

After spotting the Americans a 3-0 lead in the first period, Toronto fought their way back to tie the game before dropping a 4-3 decision in the shootout.

Jeff Taffe, Jamie Johnson and Chris Taylor scored for the Amerks, who clinched second place in the North Division earning a single point. Josh Engel, Ryan Hamilton and Andre Deveaux scored for the Marlies.

Taffe beat James Reimer just over three minutes into the game on the breakaway to take the lead. Johnson and Taylor added goals later in the period to make it 3-0. In the final minute, Juraj Mikus snapped a shot from the point that Engel tipped past Alexander Salak to make it 3-1.

The Marlies bounced back with a much better second period, where they out shot Rochester 9-1, with the only shot on goal coming in the final 30 seconds of the period.

Early in the third period, Hamilton made it a 3-2 game when he poked a rebound behind Salak. 1:25 later, Deveaux jammed in a loose puck in the top of the crease to tie the game.

Both teams had several scoring chances through the third and into the overtime.

Engel and Hamilton both scored in the shootout for Toronto, while Taffe, Mike York and Michal Repik had the Americans goals.

Toronto returns home to host the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday at 4pm.