Mannino Makes Great First Impression

Published on March 11, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, Maine - Goalie Peter Mannino made 45 saves in his first start in a Pirates jersey, setting a new season-high for the team, as the Pirates (28-27-3-3, 62 points, 11th place Eastern Conference) hung on to defeat the Providence Bruins (27-29-3-4, 61 points, 13th place Eastern Conference) by a score 5-4 in front of 5,127 fans at the at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Jordan Szwarz and Ashton Rome both had a goal and an assist in the victory, which pulls Portland to within two points of Albany Devils for the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Pirates took an early 1-0 with an extra attacker goal on a delayed penalty call. Mathieu Beaudoin passed the puck to Brett Sterling at the right side of net, where he found Andy Miele alone in front for his 11th goal of the season with 11:47 left in the first period.

The Bruins tied it up just 79 seconds later on the power play Kyle MacKinnon received a pass from Kirk MacDonald at the top of the right circle and buried a wrist shot past Mannino for his 11th goal of the season. Andrew Bodnarchuk also was credited with an assist.

The Pirates took a 2-1 lead with 8:12 left in the period when Rome caused a turnover behind the Providence net and quickly fed it to Szwarz in front. His one-timer beat Providence goalie Michael Hutchinson, good for Szwarz's seventh goal of the year.

The Pirates took a two goal lead with a power play goal at 17:03 of the first period. Matt Watkins' pass from behind the net found Ryan Duncan in front for one-timer. Duncan's 14th goal of the season was also assisted by Alexandre Bolduc.

The Bruins had a great opportunity early in the second period when they went on a 5-on-3 power play, their second of the game, but were unsuccessful. The Bruins outshot the Pirates 19 to 3 in the second period, but Mannino made a number of spectacular saves to keep the Pirates ahead by two goals heading into the third.

The P-Bruins scored two goals in the first six minutes of the third period to pull even. The first goal came on a power play when Carter Camper batted home a MacKinnon pass for his 15th goal of the season. Colby Cohen was also credited with an assist the goal came 3:31 into the third period.

Craig Cunningham tied the game with a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Mannino high to the stick side for his 16th goal on the season with assist going to Josh Hennessy and Kevan Miller at 5:05.

It took Portland just one minute, 25 seconds to retake the lead. Evan Bloodoff was left alone in front on a three-on-two rush to bury a feed from Mathieu Brodeur. The goal was Bloodoff's sixth of the season and was his third goal in as many games. Ethan Werek also picked up an assist on the play.

The Pirates added an insurance goal when Kenndal McArdle passed the puck up ice to Szwarz. He found Rome streaking to the net and he beat Hutchinson with a wrist shot to the stick side with just 4:38 left to put Portland ahead by two.

Rome's sixth goal of the season ended up standing up as the game-winner after Cohen scored his third of the season with just 15.4 seconds to go. The goal came with an extra attacker, as Josh Hennessy picked up the lone assist.

Providence outshot Portland 49-18 for the game. Mannino picked up his first win for the Pirates and improves to 5-6-0 on the season. Hutchinson made 13 saves and dropped to 7-12-1 on the season. Portland was 1-for-4 on the power play while Providence was 2-for-7.

The Fairway Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were all from Portland: 1. Mannino; 2. Szwarz; 3. Rome.

The Pirates hit the road for an important showdown with the Springfield Falcons at the MassMutual Center on Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Join the Voice of the Portland Pirates Jeff Mannix for all of the play-by-play action on the WPEI 95.9 and 95.5 Portland Pirates Radio Network, beginning with the pregame show at 7:15.

Portland Pirates 20th Anniversary Season Tickets are now on sale! You can secure your seats for as low as $50! Season tickets include plenty of great perks! To find out more, call the Pirates Tickets Office at 828-4665, EXT 350 today!

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American Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2012


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