Lake Erie finished their eight-game series against Toronto with a 7-1-0-0 record, while the win also improved the Monsters to 42-27-3-5 overall.

After a scoreless first period, the Marlies carried a 10-9 lead in shots.

During a power play in the middle frame, the Monsters took a 1-0 lead when Greg Mauldin took a pass from Ben Walter, went in on a quick breakaway and snapped a shot into the right side of the net at 1:48. Mauldin’s goal marked his sixth point (3G, 3A) in as many games, while Shawn Belle also assisted.

Toronto answered just 49 seconds later, as Marcel Mueller tipped in a centering pass from Greg Scott to knot the score at 1-1. Robert Slaney also assisted.

The Marlies used a power play to take a 2-1 lead at 17:21 of the second. From the point, Korbinian Holzer scored on a one-time shot off a pass from Joe Colborne. Tyler Brenner also assisted.

With just 35 seconds remaining in the period, the Monsters used a power play opportunity of their own to retie the game. From the point, Belle snapped a low shot that made its way through net-front traffic and into the net. Belle’s goal marked his first multi-point outing as a Monster and his third point (1G, 2A) in his last two games, while Walter also assisted for his 16th point (4G, 12A) in his last 10 outings. David van der Gulik also recorded a helper on the goal, pushing his point streak to three games (1G, 2A).

After a second period in which the Monsters posted 10 shots compared to 11 by the Marlies, the score remained 2-2.

In the third period, the Monsters snapped the deadlock when Julien Brouillette took a pass from Matt Ford and rifled a slap shot from the left point to make the score 3-2. Brouillette’s power play goal extended his point streak to four games (1G, 3A), while he’s recorded points in eight of his last 10 games (2G, 6A). Julian Talbot also assisted.

For the remainder of regulation, the Monsters locked down defensively and held on for a 3-2 victory.

Jason Bacashihua stopped 32 of 34 shots faced in the win, while his counterpart, Jussi Rynnas, went 25-for-28 in goal for Toronto.

The Monsters will travel to Rockford for an 8:05 p.m. faceoff against the IceHogs on Friday, beginning a 3-in-3 weekend that will conclude Lake Erie’s regular season.

Three Stars: 1. LE Brouillette (GW goal); 2. LE Belle (1 goal, 1 assist); 3. LE Bacashihua (32 saves)