Marlies top Griffins in AHL outdoor game

DETROIT -- Spencer Abbott and Gregg McKegg scored in the shootout for the Toronto Marlies and goalie David McIntyre stopped all four attempts in a 4-3 victory Monday night at Comerica Park against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The game was part of the SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival at Comerica Park in the lead up to the Bridgestone 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium on Wednesday between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Grand Rapids and Toronto are the teams' American Hockey League affiliates.

Carter Ashton gave the Marlies a 2-1 lead late the first period. McKegg backhaned the puck at Grand Rapids goaltender Tom McCollum from the neutral zone; McCollum parried the puck to his right, but Ashton was there to squeeze one inside the near post.

Luke Glendening tied the score 2-2 at 11:22 of the middle period. He backhanded the puck towards the net and it went in off McIntyre's right skate for Glendening's fifth goal of the season.

Glendening then put the Griffins in front at 16:18. He broke in on McIntyre and slipped a shot through his legs that went off the post and then the back of the goaltender before trickling across the goal line.

Glendening is a Grand Rapids, Mich., native and spent four years at the University of Michigan. He also spent 16 games with the Red Wings this season, collecting one assist, while the team was gutted by injuries. He was reassigned to Grand Rapids on Sunday because Darren Helm was ready to return Monday for the Red Wings.

Toronto's Kenny Ryan leveled the score at 3-3 early in the third period. McCollum didn't handle T.J. Brennan's shot from the top of the circle cleanly, and Ryan swooped in to stuff the puck across the line during a scramble at 2:22.

Grand Rapids defenseman Xavier Ouellet tied the game at 7:20 of the opening period with a goal from in close after Toronto defenseman Kevin Marshall opened the scoring 70 seconds after the opening faceoff with his first of the season.