Pirates down Wolf Pack

Published on December 11, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Hartford, CT, December 11, 2009 - The Portland Pirates used a four-goal third period to power themselves past the Wolf Pack Friday night at the XL Center, 5-2.

The loss stretched Hartford's season-high winless streak to six games (0-4-1-1).

Tyler Ennis, the AHL's leading rookie scorer (9-14-23), scored the game-winning goal for the Pirates at 5:57 of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie after receiving a pass from Jeff Cowan. Marc-Andre Gragnani also assisted.

Jhonas Enroth made 16 saves on the Wolf Pack to earn the win in goal for Portland, who outshot Hartford 29-18.

"We made lots of mistakes," said Hartford Head Coach Ken Gernander. "There's lots to correct in a short amount of time."

The Wolf Pack had opened the scoring at 15:14 of the first period to take the early lead, as Ryan Garlock forced a turnover from Gragnani to create a shorthanded two-on-none opportunity with newly-minted Hartford captain Dane Byers.

Garlock came down the right wing and passed to Byers, who immediately fed it back to Garlock, who then beat Enroth for his second goal of the season.

Portland managed to knot the score at one in the second period, as Cody McCormick wristed a shot past Wolf Pack goaltender Chad Johnson at 15:05. McCormick had picked up the puck from the skates of Hartford's Corey Locke, after he blocked a shot initially taken by Gragnani.

The Wolf Pack were outshot 15-3 in the second period, but Johnson (24 saves) made several key saves to keep the score tied at one, including multiple stops on McCormick earlier in the period at 12:55.

McCormick would strike again, this time on the power-play, to give the Pirates the 2-1 lead just 57 seconds into the third.

McCormick deflected a shot by Denis Persson just over the goal line past Johnson for his second goal of the night, as Hartford's Matt Gilroy was in the penalty box serving a tripping penalty taken at 42 seconds.

Gilroy then redeemed himself, as he carried the puck into the Pirates' zone and passed to Brodie Dupont, who took a shot and then buried his own rebound kicked out by Enroth at 4:10 to tie the game at two.

The goal was the Wolf Pack's second shorthanded score of the night, and the league leading tenth of the season for Hartford.

The score stay tied for just under two minutes, as Ennis notched the third Pirates goal to take the lead.

Philip Gogulla then extended the Portland advantage to 4-2 at 10:27, skating through the slot alone before scoring his fifth of the season. Kyle Wanvig received his second assist of the night on the play.

Brad Larsen added an empty-net goal to complete the Pirates' four-goal frame with 23 seconds remaining.

Prior to the game, Byers was named as the Wolf Pack's fifth team captain.

"It's a great honor," said Byers. "It's great to be recognized as a leader."

The loss to Portland dropped the Wolf Pack to 13-12-1-2 for 29 points on the season, and into seventh place in the Atlantic Division.

Hartford hosts former Wolf Pack captain Greg Moore and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday at the XL Center (7:00), before the Albany River Rats come to town for a Sunday matinee (4:00).

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American Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2009


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