Photo by Lake Erie Monsters / John Saraya

Scoresheet

Andrew Agozzino’s goal in the final seconds of Tuesday’s game was not enough, as the Lake Erie Monsters (27-28-2-7) fell to the Toronto Marlies (35-20-2-4) for the third time in a week; this time by a 4-2 score at Quicken Loans Arena. Agozzino and John Negrin scored for the Monsters, while Colorado Avalanche 2010 first round draft choice Joey Hishon made his professional debut, returning from a two-year hiatus due to injury. Sami Aittokallio took the loss in net, making his first start since March 3.

Kevin Marshall’s shot through traffic from the Monsters blue line found its way through against Aittokallio and gave Toronto a 1-0 lead with 49 seconds remaining in the first period.

Just 1:47 into the second period, Mike Zigomanis fired a low shot from the right circle past Aittokallio to extend the Toronto lead to 2-0.

Negrin’s first goal as a Monster followed Karl Stollery’s point blast that missed wide on the power play; Negrin moved in from the left point and fired the puck into a largely empty net before Marlies goalie Drew MacIntyre could move to his right for the save. Negrin’s power play goal at 11:47 of the second period was assisted by Stollery and Bill Thomas and cut the Marlies lead to 2-1.

Joe Colborne regained the two-goal lead for Toronto on the power play at 3:11 of the third period on a shot from the right circle, making the score 3-1 in favor of Toronto.

With 27 seconds left in the game, Toronto’s Ryan Hamilton scored an empty-net goal to make the score 4-1. Agozzino poked in a rebound with four seconds remaining in the third for his 17th goal of the season on the power play, assisted by Tyler McNeely and Dan Maggio.

Aittokallio stopped 20 of 24 shots in net for the Monsters, and with the loss his record moves to 11-10-1. MacIntyre stopped 35 of 37 in the Toronto win; he is 7-2-1.

The Monsters are back on the ice Friday in Grand Rapids at 7:00 PM, and return to The Q Saturday to host the Griffins at 7:30 PM.

NOTES: The Monsters are 3-4-0-0 against Toronto this season, and are now 13-15-1-4 at home… Sean Sullivan returned on the blue line for the Monsters, seeing his first game action since being injured 12/22/12 vs. Houston… The Monsters were 2-6 on the power play, giving them four power play goals over their last two games; both against Toronto… The Monsters are 4-10 on the power play over their last two games… The Monsters were 4-5 on the penalty kill… Agozzino led the Monsters with five shots on goal.

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