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Monarchs Outshoot Pirates, Take VIP Cup Series Lead

December 7, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Portland Pirates News Release

Lewiston, ME--Tobias Rieder scored twice and Mark Visentin made 34 saves Saturday night, but the Pirates ended up falling to the Manchester Monarchs 4-3 in a shootout at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

After a lengthy stoppage to take care of issues with the ice, the Pirates opened the scoring when Tobias Rieder scored at 6:41 in the first period. Rieder picked up the puck from Gilbert Brule and used his speed to get around the Manchester defender at the right circle, cutting across the front of the net and beating goaltender Jean-Francois Berube to give the Pirate the lead.

Brandon McMillan extended the Pirate lead to two at 9:24 when he came around the left side of the Monarchs goal, spinning and firing in one motion.

Trying to squash the Pirates mutiny, the Monarchs responded quickly, cutting the lead back to one just 11 seconds later when Zach O'Brien rocketed a one-timer from the hashmarks that beat Visentin.

In the second, Rieder notched his second goal of the night, and team-leading eighth of the season, when he tapped in a beautiful saucer pass from Brule that came from the right-side boards.

In the third, it was all Monarchs as they tried to get back into the game. At 12:32, Andrew Bodnarchuk blasted a slap shot from the point that rang off the iron work and in, bringing Manchester to within one. Then, with just under three minutes left, the Monarchs played the puck into the Portland zone around the glass. Visentin came out to play the puck, but it took a carom off a stanchion and bounced back in front, allowing O'Brien an easy tap-in for his second of the night.

In overtime, both teams had chances, but were unable to find the back of the net sending the game into a shootout. Andy Miele was the lone Pirate to score in the shootout while O'Brien and Pearson were able to score for Manchester.

Manchester's victory gives them their second shootout victory this season in the VIP Cup series and a 2-1 series lead. Tobias Rieder continues his torrid scoring in the series, with 4 goals to lead both teams. The loss was the Pirates 5th straight and the 5th straight game that they were outshot.

The Pirates will look to bounce back Sunday when they travel Providence to take on the Bruins at 3:05 p.m. Tomorrow's game can be heard on the Pirates flagship stations WPEI 95.5/95.9 FM as well as WEZR AM 1240 in the Lewiston/Auburn area and WTME AM 780/1450 in Oxford County. The game can also be heard online at portlandpirates.com by clicking "Listen Live" and can be seen live on AHL Live at ahllive.com. The pregame show starts at 2:45 with Jeff Mannix.

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