Leblanc leads Bulldogs to 6-4 win over Marlies

Louis Leblanc scored twice as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Toronto Marlies 6-4 in American Hockey League action on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs had seen a three-goal lead evaporate in the third but Gabriel Dumont fed Leblanc from the corner and he beat Marlies goalie Jussi Rynnas from close range at 14:41.

Nathan Beaulieu, Greg Pateryn, Tyler Murovich and Dumont, into an empty net, also scored for the Bulldogs (15-23-6), while Cedrick Desjardin made 42 saves.

Jamie Devane, Jesse Blacker, Ryan Hamilton and Jerry D'Amigo each replied for the Marlies (24-15-4), while Rynnas stopped 20 shots.

Beaulieu got things started at 5:49 off a faceoff in the Toronto zone when his one time blast from the left point eluded Rynnas, who was screened on the play.

The Bulldogs doubled their advantage largely thanks to the Marlies drawing three simultaneous minor penalties. Just five seconds into their five-on-three advantage Pateryn fired home his first goal of the season from the point.

Toronto got one goal back after Devane stepped out of the penalty box. With the puck in the Marlies zone, Greg Scott sprawled all-out to poke the puck out to Devane who scored on the breakaway at 18:18.

It didn't take long for Hamilton to regain its two-goal advantage. Just under two minutes into the second period Leblanc chased after a loose puck to Rynnas' left before backtracking to the front of the goal and letting go a backhand shot that eluded the Marlies' goalie for a 3-1 lead.

Murovich gave Hamilton a three-goal advantage at 5:09 of the second when he converted on a backhand shot of his own from close range.

The Marlies dominated the third and started the rally on Blacker's wrist shot at 1:57 that reduced the margin to two. At 6:06, Ryan Hamilton banged in a rebound to make it a one-goal game.

Toronto continued to carry the play and the Bulldogs held out until D'Amigo let a quick snap shot go from the slot that tied the game.

Notes: Wednesday's game was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. as a school days game but was moved to the evening due to the ongoing dispute between teachers and provincial government. Attendance at Ricoh Coliseum was 6,308.