Monarchs Top Pirates in Close Finish

Published on April 9, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Manchester, NH - Alec Martinez scored the game winner on a power play midway through the third period as the Manchester Monarchs shaded the Portland Pirates 4-3 in an American Hockey League game played tonight in front of 7,511 at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Corey Elkins, Andrea Loktionov and Oscar Moller also scored for the Monarchs, who improved to 43-26-3-6 with the win (their eighth straight) and kept their hopes alive to catch the Pirates for second in the Atlantic Division. In order to catch the Pirates, Manchester must win their final two games while the Pirates have to lose their final two games in regulation. Marc-Andre Gragnani, Paul Byron and Brad Larsen scored for the Pirates, who saw their 11-game point streak (8-0-2-1) streak come to an end. Portland is now 44-23-7-4 on the season. Elkins opened the scoring midway through the opening period to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. Loktionov struck 1:36 later to up the count to 2-0 after one. The Pirates exploded out of the second, scoring twice in the opening three-and-a-half minute to tie the game at two. Gragnani started the outburst two minutes into the period followed 1:26 later by Byron. Manchester restored a one-goal lead when Moller scored on a five-on-three power-play with four minutes remaining in the period to give the Monarchs a 3-2 lead after two. Larsen connected on the power play early in the third to even things out at three before Martinez answered to complete the scoring. The Monarchs out shot the Pirates 28-21 as J.P. Lamoureux took the loss. The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the game were 1. Moller (who also had two assists);2. Pirates defenseman Drew Schiestel and 3. Martinez.

The Pirates Regular Season comes to a close with a pair of home games tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Tomorrow (Saturday) it's a Labatt Blue Light Hockey Night in Portland when the Pirates take on the Lowell Devils Saturday at 7 p.m. at the CCCC. Join the following friends of Labatt Blue Light and the Pirates before and after the game at Binga's Stadium ($3 Labatt drafts), Brian Boru ($2.40 Labatt drafts), Frosty Pint ($2.50 Labatt Drafts and Labatt Light bottles) and Spring Point Tavern ($2 Labatt drafts).The first 2,000 fans in to the game will receive a free toothbrush courtesy of Northeast Delta Dental. The Pirates also welcome area Boy Scouts to the game. Salty Pete's Treasure Chest will be up for grabs filled with over $500 in prizes. Sunday the Pirates close out the Regular Season in a 4 p.m. game against the Worcester Sharks at the CCCC. It's PeoplesChoice Credit Union Fan Appreciation Day as select fans will win the shirt right off the back of their favorite player at the end of the game. The UNUM Challenge concludes with the Sharks leading 4-3. It's USA Hockey Member Appreciation Night. USA Hockey Members their family and friends can get special discounted ticket price of $9 per person. And it's a Sudzie Family Five Pack Game. Five Main Deck tickets, five hot dogs or pizza slices, five sodas, one Daily Scroll game program, and one free Sudzie Minuteman exterior car wash for only $60. Stick around for the Creative Awards Team Awards Ceremony at the conclusion of the game. Tickets for the games are available by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or going on-line at portlandpirates.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2010


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