Abbott, Hamilton each score two goals as Marlies defeat Crunch 6-3

TORONTO - Spencer Abbott and Ryan Hamilton each scored twice as the Toronto Marlies beat the Syracuse Crunch 6-3 in American Hockey League action Wednesday.

Paul Ranger and Jesse Blacker also scored for the Marlies (30-19-6), who broke open a tie with three goals in the second period.

Philip-Michael Devos, J.T. Brown and Alex Hutchings scored for Syracuse (34-17-7).

The Marlies roared to life in the second period with Ranger, Blacker and Abbott all scoring in the first seven and a half minutes.

Ranger scored Toronto's second of three power play goals in the game at 1:31 of the second, then Blacker scored off his own rebound at 2:27.

The scoring spree ended on a power play at 7:24 when Abbott scored his second of the afternoon by finishing off a nice passing play with Ranger and Hamilton.

Drew MacIntyre made 39 saves for Toronto.

Syracuse starting goalie Riku Helenius gave up four goals on seven shots and was replaced by Pat Nagle after Toronto's fourth goal of the game in the second period.

Syracuse opened the scoring in a one-sided first period when Devos banged in a rebound at 5:32.

It took Toronto almost 10 minutes to get their first shot on goal, but when it did it paid off. After Helenius saved a Jake Gardiner shot, Hamilton threw himself at the loose puck to poke it in at 9:55.

Syracuse went ahead again at 14:48 when Brown quickly headed to the net after a faceoff in the Toronto zone and scored from close range.

Despite being outshot 22-5 in the first period, Toronto found a second game-tying goal at 15:24 when Abbott scored his first by firing in a one-time shot from a Gardiner pass from the edge of the right faceoff circle.

Toronto had more penalties (six) in the first period than shots.