ROCHESTER, NY – The Toronto Marlies scored three times in the second period, including twice on the power-play, and added another shorthanded tally to cruise to a 4-0 win over the Rochester Americans Friday at The Blue Cross Arena. The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Amerks, who fall to 9-11-1-0 on the season with another divisional matchup on tap Saturday against the Albany Devils. 
William Nylander and Nikita Soshnikov each scored twice for the Marlies and Jonathan Bernier was equally impressive in his return to the American Hockey League, stopping all 22 shots he faced in the first game of his conditioning assignment from the parent Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Gauthier and Mark Arcobello also contributed two assists in the win for Toronto, which rebounded from back-to-back home losses last week against St. John’s to remain in sole possession of first place in the AHL’s North Division standings.
After a scoreless first period, Nylander put the Marlies ahead 1-0 just 1:57 into the second on the power-play. Nylander found himself with an open lane at the right circle and fired a shot past Lieuwen’s glove, tallying his 11th goal of the season.
At 11:20 on another Toronto power play, it was Nylander again who bested Lieuwen, sniping a shot to the far side of the net. Rochester’s Colby Robak successfully blocked Toronto’s first shot, but the puck took a bounce in the Marlies favor, landing at the feet of Nylander, who wristed it into the net for his second of the night.
It was Soshnikov who put the game further out of reach for the Marlies when he scored a short-handed goal at the close of the second period to extend Toronto’s lead to 3-0. Soshnikov struck again with his second of the night 3:00 into the final frame to secure the 4-0 win for Toronto.
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