Pirates Beat Sharks in Shootout

Published on March 4, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, Maine - Newly acquired Pirates Brett Sterling and Kenndal McArdle powered the team to a 3-2 shootout victory in their first game in Pirates' uniforms in front of 4,022 fans at the Cumberland County Civic Center Sunday afternoon. The contest held a lot of implications in the playoff race, as the Pirates (27-25-3-3, 60 points) entered the game in eleventh place in the Eastern Conference and two points behind the ninth seed Sharks (28-18-4-7, 61 points).

The Pirates struck first at 8:58 in the first when McArdle received a pass from behind the net and lifted the puck over Sexsmith's right shoulder to put the Pirates on the board. The goal, assisted by Alexandre Boulduc and Matt Watkins, was McArdle's first as a Pirate, and eighth of the season.

The Pirates penalty kill, ranked 28th entering the game, was able to kill a Nick Ross tripping penalty midway through the period, and the start of another Ross tripping infraction before Shark center Tim Kennedy was called for high-sticking at 19:54 in the first. The period closed out with the Pirates leading the Sharks 1-0 and both teams with a man in the box.

Just 22 seconds into the next period, Nathan Oystrick was called on a high-sticking penalty to put the Sharks up on a 4-on-3. The Pirates penalty kill was able to successfully kill both the Ross and Oystrick penalties; minutes later, the Sharks penalty kill, ranked 8th coming into the game, successfully killed a Ryan Del Monte hooking penalty.

The Pirates power play wouldn't miss the next chance, however. After Marek Viedensky was called at 9:06 for interference, Brett Maclean slid a pass cross-ice to a waiting Sterling who tipped it past Sexsmith for his first goal in a Pirates uniform. MacLean and Ross earned assists on the power play goal, Sterling's 23rd goal of the year.

The Pirates held the 2-0 lead until Worcester's Tim Kennedy fired a loose rebound past Pogge for his seventh goal of the season with just 23 seconds left in the second, to cut the Pirates lead to one going into the third period.

The Sharks would tie the score with just 12 seconds remaining after pulling Sexsmith for an extra attacker. Kennedy hammered a shot past Pogge for his eighth goal of the season and second of the game, assisted by Brandon Mashinter and Matt Irwin.

Despite a few good chances for the Sharks in overtime, including a shot which hit the crossbar, Pogge held up in net to take the teams into the shootout.

The first two shooters for each team were scoreless, until Mathieu Beaudoin broke by Sexsmith for the first goal of the shootout. Mashinter responded for the Sharks, putting one past Pogge to keep the score even. Sterling regained the lead for the Pirates, and Brodie Reid was unable to put one away for the Sharks, leaving a chance to seal the deal on the stick of Marc-Antoine Pouliot. Pouliot beat Sexsmith to give the Pirates the win, the second of the weekend, and deal Worcester its seventh loss in nine games.

Pogge made 34 saves on 36 shots to pick up his 13th win of the season and second this weekend. Sexsmith got the shootout loss for the Sharks after allowing 2 goals on 20 shots, to drop to 11-10-7 on the season. Portland was 1-for-3 on the power play was Worcester was 0-for-5.

The Fairway Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were: 1. Pogge POR; 2. Kennedy WOR; 3. McArdle POR.

The Portland Pirates will face the Sharks Friday March 9 at 7:30p.m., in Worcester in another battle for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. Join the Voice of the Pirates Jeff Mannix for all of the play-by-play on the WPEI 95.9 and 95.5 Portland Pirates Radio Network, beginning with the pregame show at 7:15.

The Pirates will return to the Cumberland County Civic Center on Saturday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. Help honor 2012 Pirates Hall of Fame inductee Brad Church as he joins the other 15 players, coaches, and team personnel that make up the Pirates Hall of Fame, presented by UNUM!

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 4, 2012


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