Boston Bruins' Andrew Ferrance, right, battles for position with Toronto Maple Leafs' Carter Ashton during the first period of an NHL game in Boston, Monday, March 19, 2012.Winslow Townson/The Associated Press
Carter Ashton struck twice and the Marlies scored four unanswered goals as Toronto rallied for a 6-4 win over the Houston Aeros on Thursday in American Hockey League action.
Ashton opened scoring for the Marlies (4-4-1) in the first period and scored the winner midway through the third. Keith Aucoin had a goal and an assist for Toronto, while Ryan Hamilton, Jake Gardiner and Leo Komarov all had singles.
"We started off good but in the middle of the second period there the team kind of wavered and we gave a couple back," said Ashton. "I think that third period was a huge building moment for the whole team."
Justin Fontaine, Chad Rau, Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle gave Houston (5-4-2) a 4-2 lead after two periods.
Ben Scrivens made 24 saves to earn the win for the Marlies. Matt Hackett stopped 29 of 34 shots for the Aeros.
Komarov started Toronto's rally at the 7:20-mark of the third period, followed nearly five minutes later by Gardiner's power-play goal.
Ashton scored the Marlies' winner 31 seconds after Gardiner's goal and Hamilton added some insurance when he put the puck into Houston's empty net.
Toronto went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Aeros were 0-for-4.