Marlies defeat Iowa, 5-2

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Wild (23-47-2-2, 50 points) were defeated by the Toronto Marlies (37-27-9-0, 83 points) 5-2 in front of 5,538 fans on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Toronto forwards Greg McKegg (2g), Josh Leivo (2a) and Matt Frattin (1g, 1a) each recorded multi-point games, helping the Marlies push past the Wild. Forward Toronto_Marlies_svgByron Froese and defenseman Brendan Mikkelson also scored for Toronto in the victory. Marlies goalie Christopher Gibson (23-17-3) made 30 saves on 32 shots in the contest, as his club reduced its magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two points. Forwards Brady Brassart and Marc Hagel each scored for Iowa in the loss. Wild goalie John Curry (13-22-2) stopped 18 of 23 shots in the defeat. Iowa visits Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 17.

Iowa opened up the scoring 7:15 into the first period when rookie forward Brady Brassart fired a snapshot past Toronto goalie Christopher Gibson. Captain Stephane Veilleux and defenseman Joel Chouinard assisted Brassart for his eighth goal this season, making it 1-0 Wild.

Toronto tied the game at 10:25 of the second period when forward Greg McKegg launched a short-side shot into the net, beating Iowa goalie John Curry. McKegg’s 20th goal this year was aided by forward Josh Leivo and rookie defenseman Viktor Loov, tying the game 1-1. Toronto took the lead at 13:45 of the period after forward Byron Froese scored. Forward Matt Frattin set up the play for Froese’s 17th goal this season and the 2-1 lead. Toronto added an insurance tally at 16:35 of the period when defenseman Brendan Mikkelson found the back of the net. Rookie Brendan Leipsic and defenseman Stuart Percy assisted Mikkelson on his eighth goal of the year, giving the Marlies a 3-1 lead.

Iowa drew within one at 11:47 of the third period when forward Marc Hagel rifled a rebound into the net. Defenseman Jon Blum and rookie forward Zack Mitchell aided Hagel on his 12th goal of the season, making it 3-2 Marlies. McKegg scored his second goal of the contest at 13:51 of the period to put Toronto back up by two. Leivo and defenseman T.J. Brennan assisted McKegg on his 21st goal this season, giving the Marlies a 4-2 lead. Frattin scored an empty-net goal at 18:12 of the period – his 25th goal of the year was unassisted for the 5-2 final.

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