T.J. Brennan hat trick leads Marlies to overtime win in season opener

TORONTO - The Toronto Marlies won their season opener, as captain Trevor Smith scored 2:59 into overtime, and defenceman T.J. Brennan had a hat trick, in a 4-3 victory over Grand Rapids in American Hockey League action Saturday.

Smith's shot hit the post, and then went off Griffins goalie Jared Coreau and in, on a power play.

The Marlies (1-0-0) were on their second power play of overtime when Griffins defenceman Brennan Evans was penalized for closing his hand on the puck in the crease.

Grand Rapids (0-1-0) forward Mitch Callahan redirected a Tomas Jurco, no-look, backhand pass to tie the game 3-3 less than five minutes into the third period.

Brennan opened the scoring with a wrist shot from the slot at 5:25 of the first period.

Jurco and Ryley Sheehan scored less than two minutes apart in the first period to give Grand Rapids a 2-1 lead.

Brennan tied it with a power-play goal at 12:19 of the second period, and he put the Marlies ahead a little over three minutes later.

Coreau made 22 saves for Grand Rapids, while Marlies goalie Drew MacIntyre stopped 27 shots.

Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled Spencer Abbott Saturday morning to replace an injured Nikolai Kulemin, who suffered a bone chip in his ankle after being hit with a puck during Friday's practice.