TORONTO -- Toronto defenceman T.J. Brennan thinks the Marlies are their own worst enemies. A neutral zone turnover by Marlies captain Trevor Smith led to the game-winning goal at 11:14 of the third period as Toronto fell 3-2 to the Texas Stars in Game 3 of their American Hockey Leagues Western Conference final. "I think were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot with turnovers," said Brennan. "Its a game of mistakes especially in the conference finals. Little things separate a team in a one goal game, couple mistakes we made and they capitalized." The goal came just 59 seconds after Brennan had picked up his second of the night to tie the game 2-2. Kevin Henderson and Patrik Nemeth had the other Stars goals while Cristopher Nilstorp made 20 saves. The win was the Stars second in three nights and gives the Dallas Stars affiliate a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final. Drew MacIntyre stopped 27 shots in the loss. The Marlies won their first eight games to open the playoffs. "The challenge for us is the neutral zone, we cannot turn over pucks in the neutral zone, thats where we have to be smart," said Marlies coach Steve Spott. "We have to be a team that gets pucks in deep and then hunts people down and gets it back. We simply havent done that well enough in this series." A newly formed fourth line of Kenny Ryan between Tyler Biggs and Brad Ross factored in on the games opening goal from Brennan at 9:16 of the first period. Biggs was in the Marlies lineup for the first time since Game 2 of the first round (April 26) replacing Jerred Smithson. Andrew MacWilliam (upper body) made his series debut replacing Dylan Yeo on the blue-line. Wednesday was MacWilliams first game since a collision with Chicago Wolves forward Adam Cracknell in Game 3 of the second round. "I thought that line was good, I thought of all the lines, that line gave us what I was hoping to get, which was a level of physicality," Spott said of his fourth line. "They played with some urgency and some grit so I liked that line." Brennan nearly had his second of the game, and period, on a Marlies power play late in the opening frame as he wired a Spencer Abbott feed from the top of the face-off circle, but Nilstorp was there to make the save. Nemeth tied it 1-1 at 3:16 of the second period beating a screened MacIntyre five hole for his first of the playoffs. Henderson, who played for Spott with the Ontario Hockey Leagues Kitchener Rangers, gave Texas its first lead of the game at 6:59 of the third tipping home the rebound off Brett Ritchies shot for his first playoff goal. "Theyre a veteran hockey club and theyre good," said Spott. "When you look at their 12 forwards, theyre playing with a level of desperation that our 12 forwards havent found yet. Weve got a couple guys that are playing at the level that we expected." Notes: Maple Leafs great Johnny Bower dropped the puck in a ceremonial faceoff. Game 4 of the series goes Thursday with Game 5 at Ricoh Coliseum Saturday afternoon. Cyber Monday Hockey Jerseys . I suppose Sternberg has earned the right to speak out since his Rays, despite one of the lowest payrolls in the Majors at $58 million, are entering the final weekend of the regular season holding down the first Wild Card spot in the American League, one game ahead of Cleveland and two up on Texas. Hockey Jerseys Black Friday . The 28-year-old from Rochester, Alta., was selected by the Redblacks from the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft. https://www.fakehockeyjerseys.com/ . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Hockey Jerseys China . You can watch all the action on TSN and TSN GO beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt. Minnesota dropped the first two tests of this best-of-seven set at Chicagos United Center and was outscored by a combined 9-3 margin in those setbacks. However, the Wild righted themselves at home by taking Game 3 by a 4-0 count before knotting the series at two games apiece with Fridays 4-2 triumph at Xcel Energy Center. Cheap Hockey Jerseys . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks.DENVER -- Brian Dozier played his own version of Home Run Derby against the Colorado Rockies, hitting two into the left-field seats. Next up, the real thing -- in his home park. Dozier had his first career multihomer game to get cranked up for the derby and the Minnesota Twins beat the Rockies 13-5 on Sunday. "A little momentum going into it," the second baseman said of Mondays contest. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Dozier doesnt exactly consider himself a basher of the baseball. But he lined a solo homer in the eighth off Adam Ottavino and added a three-run shot an inning later when Brooks Brown served him a 94-mph fastball. Doziers hoping he can carry that swing over to the contest. His brother is even flying in pitch to him. "Its going to be fun," said Dozier, who has 18 homers this season. However, hes not so sure he will even receive the biggest ovation at the contest even if its at Target Field. He thinks the return of Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau, who came up with the Twins, will draw quite a few roars, too. Morneau also was picked to participate in the derby. "Thats going to be really exciting," Dozier said. Late fill-in Chris Parmelee gave the Twins an early lead as he ignited a five-run first inning with a two-run single. He replaced outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, who was scratched with the flu. The run support turned out to be enough for Phil Hughes (10-5), who picked up his 10th win despite allowing five runs and 10 hits in five innings. It was his first appearance at Coors Field. "Didnt like it very much," Hughes joked of the hitter friendly park. "I didnt have my best stuff or command or anything really going today." Neither did Brett Anderson (0-3). He was rusty in his first outing since April. He allowed six runs -- five earned -- in five innings. The lefty has been sidelined since breaking his left index finger on April 12 while batting. "My stuff was terrible, pretty much," Anderson said. "Ill put this one behind me. I feel good about staying healthy and go to my next one." Minnesota finished a seven-game road swing with a 5-2 record and head into the All-Starr break trailing the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers by 10 1-2 games.ddddddddddddDozier thinks the team is in a good spot heading into the second half, especially considering they begin with a 10-game home stand. "We knew coming into this series, or this whole road trip, not really make-or-break, but a huge test what were going to do after the break, whether buy or sell," Dozier said. "I want to try to do everything to contend. "In all of our opinions, we think were good enough." Hughes was able to stave off the Rockies after being staked to an early lead. Colorado trimmed the deficit to 6-5 in Hughes last inning, when Morneau scored on Corey Dickersons groundout. Sam Fuld provided some breathing room in the seventh when he brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. Parmelee then added another run when he ran home on a passed ball. Dozier increased the lead in the eighth with his homer that was just inside the foul pole in left. He then hit another an inning later, giving the Twins a season-high 18 hits. Nolan Arenado and Morneau each had three hits for the Rockies, who head into the break 13 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. "I think its important to get a breather here," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Its the only time for six, seven months that were able to do that. But when the second half starts we need to play with a sense of urgency. "I was hoping we could get this series going into the break. Didnt happen." NOTES: Dozier has 69 runs this season. The last Twins player to have more than 68 runs at the break was Rod Carew (70) in 1977. ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said INF Danny Santana (left knee) should be ready to return soon after the All-Star break. ... Gardenhire will use right-handers Kyle Gibson, Kevin Correia and Hughes in a three-game series against Tampa Bay beginning Friday. ... RHP Jordan Lyles (broken left hand) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Weiss said recent X-rays showed Lyles hand "needed a little bit more time." Weiss also said Lyles was involved in a minor car accident Friday night and suffered some facial injuries. ' ' '