First Eimskip Challenge Game Ends in OT Loss
January 14, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release
St John's, N.L. - The Portland Pirates faced off in the innaugeral matchup of the Eimskip Port-to-Port Challenge on Wednesday night at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland. The game boiled down to a duel between the two goalies in the AHL with the most playing time this season-Portland's Mike McKenna (15-13-2) and St. John's' Connor Hellebuyck (16-10-2). Ultimately, the IceCaps came out on top, scoring a goal a little over two minutes into the overtime period.
The only scoring in regulation came in the second frame of action. The IceCaps drew first blood with a power play goal from Scott Kosmachuk at 9:50, assisted by John Albert and Keaton Ellerby. The Pirates were able to tie it up at 16:12 when Brendan Shinnimin found the top of the net with help from Jordan Szwarz and Justin Hodgman.
The third period got chippy, with the teams exchanging several penalties and trading off power play opportunities with penalty kill necessity. Both McKenna and Hellebuyck held steady throughout regulation, only allowing one goal apiece. Hellebuyck blocked 32 of 33 Pirate goals, while McKenna blocked 23 of 25 shots from the IceCaps.
The game winner came 2 minutes and 11 seconds into overtime when St. John's' Carl Klingberg fired of a shot on a right angle, getting past McKenna. Julian Melchiori and Will O'Neill each picked up assists on the goal.
The two teams will face off twice more this weekend. They will play on Friday and Saturday, January 16 and 17, at the Mile One Center in St. John's, Newfoundland. These and all the rest of the games between the Pirates and the IceCaps this season will be a part of the Port-To-Port Challenge Cup presented by Eimskip. The Pirates will then return home for a game against the Worcester Sharks at 7:00 on Wednesday, January 21. For tickets and more information, call 207-PIRATES.
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American Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2015
- Admirals Top Bulldogs 4-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- First Eimskip Challenge Game Ends in OT Loss - Portland Pirates
- Jeffrey's Three-Point Night Lifts Comets past Griffins - Utica Comets
- Falcons Downed by Devils, 2-1, in Overtime - Springfield Falcons
- Klingberg Sinks Pirates with Overtime Winner - St. John's IceCaps
- Wild Recalls Dumba from Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Worcester Sharks Receive John McCarthy on Loan from St. Louis (NHL) - Worcester Sharks
- Coyotes Acquire a 2015 Third Round Draft Choice from Minnesota for Devan Dubnyk - Portland Pirates
- Chicago Wolves Receive Adam Burish on Loan from San Jose - Chicago Wolves
- Olum's Recliner Giveaway & BSF Jersey Auction this Friday - Binghamton Senators
- MeLVin Named to 2015 AHL All-Star Classic - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Kevin Goumas Loaned to Reading - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Admirals Recall Madore from Cincinnati - Milwaukee Admirals
- January 30 and 31 Will be Wolf Pack "Hartford Hockey Heritage Weekend" - Hartford Wolf Pack
- B-Sens Weekly - Binghamton Senators
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Flames Recall Drew Shore from Adirondack - Adirondack Flames
- Syracuse Crunch Youth Hockey Appreciation Night Set for January 24 - Syracuse Crunch
- 'Canes Recall Andrej Nestrasil from Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Brandon Anderson Returned to South Carolina - Hershey Bears
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