NET GAIN FOR TORONTO

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Scott Clemmensen one-upped Jimmy Howard in an entertaining goaltenders’ duel on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena, leading the Toronto Marlies to a 2-1 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Howard helped the Griffins survive a sluggish first period unscathed and eventually finished with 30 saves, but Clemmensen answered with 31 stops and blanked Grand Rapids over the game’s first 56:15 to snap the Marlies’ two-game skid on the Griffins’ home ice.

The Griffins (27-34-2-5), who’ve lost three straight to fall seven games below 0.500 for the first time this season, will look to begin salvaging their playoff hopes with a two-game stint in upstate New York, beginning with a 7:35 p.m. tilt on Friday against the Rochester Americans.

After a promising opening push, the Griffins escaped the first period without any damage despite an ice surface that seemed to be tilted toward Howard at times. However, that good fortune was broken by a pair of Toronto tallies in a span of 3:17 midway through the second frame, providing all the scoring the visitors would need on this night. Colin Murphy put a rebound past Howard from the left side to finish a rush at 8:09, and Andy Wozniewski connected from the top of the left circle during a power play at 11:26.

Grand Rapids’ Evan McGrath seemed to have solved Clemmensen from point-blank range at 10:35 of the third period, but the goal was disallowed by referee Shaun Davis, who ruled that the puck had been kicked into the net. McGrath eventually scored one that counted with 3:45 remaining, one-timing Garrett Stafford’s feed from the slot, but the Griffins could not manage the equalizer despite pulling Howard for most of the final minute.

The Griffins squandered all seven of their power play opportunities, while the Marlies (41-18-3-5) converted one of their four chances.