Behind a three-goal third period, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated the Toronto Marlies, 5-3, in Game 3 of the AHL Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final on Monday at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Canada.

Aidan McDonough had a goal and two assists, while linemates Bill Zonnon and Atley Calvert each added one goal and one assist. Goalie Sergei Murashov made 36 saves as the Penguins cut their deficit in the best-of-7 series to 2-1. Game 4 is Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Toronto with Game 5 on Friday at 7 p.m., also in Toronto.

“We got thrown together a couple weeks ago and we’ve kind of started to find some chemistry,” McDonough said in a postgame video press conference. “Bill’s obviously a special player, such a young kid but mature above his years in terms of how he plays the game. Calvy’s a treat to play with. He gives it everything every shift. We felt good out there. For us to contribute and help the team felt really good.”

Knotted, 2-2, after two periods, and the teams skating 4-on-4 because of coincidental minor penalties, Ville Koivunen broke the tie at 7:48 of the third period. Tristan Broz carried the puck into the Toronto zone and dropped a pass to Koivunen. He fed it back to Broz, who returned it to Koivunen, who wristed it past Marlies goalie Artur Akhtyamov to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

Just 2:15 later, McDonough won a puck battle in the left corner and passed to Zonnon below the goal line. Zonnon gave it back to McDonough, who centered a backdoor pass to Calvert in front and Calvert slammed it in to make it 4-2 at 10:03.

“That 4-on-4 we really turned the tide,” Penguins coach Kirk MacDonald said. “We were playing on our front foot, we were aggressive. When we’re at our best, we’re able to push the pace and possess pucks, not sitting on our heels. The guys did a great job. Once we got that first one from Ville — and Brozer, great job — you could kind of feel the momentum shift. Then Billy’s line did a great job for the eventual game-winner.”

Late in the game, Toronto pulled Akhtyamov for a sixth attacker and former Penguin Marc Johnstone scored with 51.1 seconds left to make it a 4-3 game. But with 35.9 seconds left and Akhtyamov stilled pulled for the sixth attacker, Tanner Howe scored an empty-net goal to seal it for the Penguins.

Akhtyamov finished with 29 saves for Toronto.

“Going down three (games), that’s tough,” McDonough said. “I like our team no matter what if we’re up or down or backs against the wall or not. But to put ourselves in this spot now to get the confidence going a little bit for all of us to know when we play the right way we’ll get rewarded.”

Vinni Lettieri gave the Marlies a 1-0 lead at 12:15 of the first period. But the Penguins answered at 14:38 on the power play. With Toronto’s Michael Pezzetta in the box for tripping, Gabe Klassen had his initial shot attempt blocked. He regained possession of the puck and passed it to McDonough, who redirected it past Akhtyamov to tie it at 1.

The Penguins were 1 for 3 on the power play and killed all three Toronto power plays.

“We know we’re a great 5-on-5 team, but you’ve still got to win the special teams,” MacDonald said. “Tonight, we did. Obviously, they got the better of us in the first two games. I’m sure they’re going to make some adjustments for Wednesday and we’ll be prepared.”

Added McDonough: “It was nice to get the kills. The kills were really big, a ton of momentum for us.”

In the second period, the Penguins took a 2-1 lead at 2:04. McDonough carried the puck into the Marlies zone, got a step on the defender and fired a shot that Akhtyamov stopped. The puck, however, trickled through his pads and Zonnon swooped in and poked it across the goal line.

However, late in the second, Luke Haymes broke in on a semi-breakaway. Penguins defenseman Chase Pietila knocked the puck away from behind, but Haymes recovered it in the corner, sent it to the front of the net where it deflected in off a Penguins player for the tying goal at 17:36.

After missing the past three games with an injury, defenseman Owen Pickering returned to the lineup for the Penguins.