Marlies rally past Monsters 5-2 in Game 1 of North Division finals

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - After a big third period, the Toronto Marlies pulled away and beat the Cleveland Monsters 5-2 in Game 1 of the North Division finals.

Monsters’ Hudson Fasching opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 4:56 of the first period, converting passes from Luca Pinelli and Will Butcher to give the Monsters a 1-0 lead. Hunter McKown made it 2-0 at 7:37 of the second, with Tate Singleton picking up the assist.

Toronto answered late in the second period. Easton Cowan scored on the power play at 17:52 and Marshall Rifai tied it at 19:53 to make it 2-2 heading into the third.

Nylander put the Marlies ahead for good at 2:15 of the third. Ryan Tverberg added an insurance goal at 12:32, and Benoit-Olivier Groulx sealed it with an empty-netter at 16:15.

Zach Sawchenko stopped 11 shots for Cleveland, while Toronto’s Artur Akhtyamovmade made 32 saves in the win.

Game 2 is set for Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Rocket Arena.