Story by Matt Tidcombe.
The Toronto Marlies scored two short-handed goals as they beat the Belleville Senators 5-1 to conclude 2017.
Chris DiDomenico scored for Belleville while, in his 15th start of the season, Andrew Hammond stopped 36 shots. Frederik Gauthier (2), Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Brooks scored for the Marlies while Garret Sparks made 19 saves.
Toronto struck first as their relentless pressure paid off at 18:14 as Johnsson bagged his 12th of the year on a 5-on-3 power play after finishing off Chris Mueller’s pass through the crease.
The hosts doubled their lead short-handed at 7:37 of the second as Kapanen beat Hammond glove side for his ninth of the season before notching their second shorty of the night through Gauthier at 6:19 of the third after he took advantage of a loose Christian Jaros pass.
The Sens finally found a way past Sparks with 9:53 left after Max McCormick forced a turnover inside the Marlies zone and centered to DiDomenico who grabbed his sixth of the year.
Gauthier scored his second of the night on a nice solo effort as he banked the puck off the boards to himself before beating Hammond over his right shoulder with 6:38 to play.
Brooks notched the first goal of his pro career at 17:13 to make it 5-1 as he pounced on a rebound.
In a milestone, Francis Perron played his 100th career AHL game. Belleville dropped to 1-4 against the Marlies this season.
The Senators return to action on Jan. 3 when they host the Binghamton Devils at the Yardmen.