Pirates Continue Season Long Success Against Bruins

Published on January 22, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, ME - Mark Mancari registered his second hat trick of the season, both against Providence, and tied a personal career-high by extending his point streak to 10 games in leading the Portland Pirates to a 5-2 victory over the Providence Bruins in an American Hockey League game played tonight in front of a season-high 7,126 at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The 7,126 fans in attendance equals the third sellout of the year and largest crowd in three years.

Colin Stuart and Dennis Persson also provided goals for the Pirates, as they won their fourth straight at home and moved into a tie for first-place in the Atlantic Division with the Manchester Monarchs sporting a 26-13-4-1 record for 57 points. In the five meetings of the season against Providence, Portland has earned a point in each while totaling a 4-0-1-0 record.

Lane MacDermid and Trent Whitfield tabbed the only Providence goals of the night as their four game win streak came to a halt in dropping their record to 19-20-3-1.

At the 7:13 mark of the first period, Stuart put the Pirates ahead while on a five-on-three power play, capitalizing on a rebound opportunity after shots from T.J. Brennan and Luke Adam were turned away. Providence had an answer four minutes later as MacDermid beat Jhonas Enroth for his third goal of the season. In a tightly contested couple of periods, both goaltenders turned away many scoring chances, until Mancari beat Dalton on a breakaway at the 15:18 mark of the second to give the hosts their second lead of the game. However, the Bruins would have another answer when Whitfield netted his first of the season three minutes into the third period in only his ninth game back from the injured list. With four minutes remaining in the game, Persson blasted home a power-play goal from the point to give the Pirates a lead they would not relinquish. Mancari sealed the game with two goals, including an empty-net tally with under two minutes remaining, to raise his team-leading goal total to 23.

The Bruins out-shot the Pirates 35-32 as Dalton's record dropped to 7-3-0 and Enroth improved to 14-12-1 on the season.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the game were all from Portland: 1. Mancari, 2. Persson and 3. Drew Schiestel (two assists).

Tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, January 23rd) the Pirates will be traveling to Worcester to meet the Sharks for the fourth time in eight days in a 3 p.m. start. The game can be heard live on 95.5 News Talk WLOB or on-line at www.portlandpirates.com beginning with the pre-game show at 2:45 p.m. live from the DCU Center.

The Pirates will be back in action at the Civic Center on Tuesday, January 25th at 6:30 p.m. when the Norfolk Admirals come to town in the final meeting between the two teams this season. Fans are encouraged to get to the game early and take advantage of the second of three Pirates collectible bobblehead nights, presented by Bath Savings Institution. The first 2,000 fans through the gates receive a Tyler Ennis bobblehead. It's also Pirates Date Night presented by WJBQ, WCYY, and WBLM. Visit Siano's, RiRa Irish Pub, or G&R Dimillos for dinner for two and two tickets to the game for only $19.99. Fans can also take advantage of great food and beverage specials before the game in the Civic Center's Penalty Box Grill (open at 4:30 p.m.) as well as various Pirates partners located near the Civic Center. Tickets for the game, as well as each of the remaining Pirates home games, are on sale now by calling 207-775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or on-line at ticketmaster.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2011


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