The visiting Toronto Marlies (23-15-3-2) scored five goals in the first period en route to a 6-2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters (19-22-2-1) at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night. Entering the game, the Monsters had taken four straight from Toronto in the season series.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the first 3:31 of the game on goals from Matt Frattin and Mike Zigomanis.

Monsters rookie Brad Malone had an answer for the Monsters, deflecting in a Mark Olver one-timer from the top of the right circle at 4:45 of the first period. The power play goal - Malone’s sixth - was also assisted by Tyson Barrie.

Joe Colborne answered for Toronto at 15:43 of the first period when he tapped in a misplayed puck at the side of the Monsters net to regain a 3-1 lead for the Marlies.

At 16:24 of the first, Adrian Foster scored to pull the Monsters back to within a goal when he banged in a rebound from in close to the Marlies net. His third of the season left the score at 3-2, and was assisted by Justin Mercier.

Toronto answered with two more before the first period ended, leaving the score at 5-2 in favor of the Marlies after 20 minutes.

Frattin’s second goal at 17:37 of the first period brought about the end of the evening for Monsters starting goalie Gerald Coleman, who surrendered four goals on seven shots. James Reid entered in relief and allowed a shorthanded goal to Toronto’s Jerry D’Amigo in the final minute of the first period.

Following a second period in which there was no scoring, Toronto’s Will Acton added a tally at 7:03 of the third to seal the victory for the Marlies.

Coleman, who stopped 37 of 38 shots in a 4-1 win over Hamilton on Tuesday, lasted just 17:31 and allowed four goals on seven shots. He is 2-2-0 with the loss. Reid stopped 18 of 20 shots in 42:23 of work. Ben Scrivens stopped 22 of 24 shots in Toronto’s win.

The Monsters will be back on the ice at Quicken Loans Arena Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Hamilton Bulldogs, the last game before the AHL All-Star break.

NOTES: Coleman was making back-to-back starts for the first time as a Monster… The Monsters totaled 45 penalty minutes in the game, and are 6-11-1-1 in games when they have over 20 penalty minutes… The Monsters finished with 24 shots, and have topped 30 shots in just three of their last 14 games… The Monsters are 10-9-0-0 against the North Division, and 4-3-0-0 against Toronto.

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