Pirates Get Point in 3-2 Shootout Loss to Bruins

Published on April 4, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Providence, RI - The Pirates picked up a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Portland is fourth in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of Manchester.

Portland took a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by Colton Fretter late in the first period. Colin Murphy faked a slap shot at the top of the slot and got Bruins defenseman Ryan Stokes to lay out in an attempt to block the potential shot. Murphy skated around Stokes and fed the puck to the right side of the crease where Fretter tipped it in. Fretter's 22nd goal of the season came from Murphy and Marc-Andre Gragnani at 17:21 of the first period. Portland carried its 1-0 lead into the second period. Just 14 seconds into the second, Providence evened the score when Vladimir Sobotka skated down the right wing and cranked a shorthanded wrist shot past Pirates goaltender Jhonas Enroth. Johnny Boychuk got the only assist on Sobotka's 18th goal of the year. Portland bounced back later in the period as Nathan Gerbe skated in on a breakaway and tried to deke Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask. The goaltender poke-checked the puck away from Gerbe towards the right corner. The rookie forward chased the puck down and threw it to the front of the net where Mathieu Darche deflected it home. Darche's 27th goal of the year came from Gerbe and Tim Kennedy at the 13:56 mark of the second period. The Pirates took their 2-1 lead into the third period.

Things stayed 2-1 until the middle of the third period and then Brad Marchand took matters into his own hand. The rookie skated down the left wing and deked around a Pirates defenseman to cut into the slot. He cut across the slot and shifted to the backhand, lifting the puck over the glove of Enroth to tie the game at 2-2. Marchand's 17th goal of the season came from Sobotka and Stephenson at 10:30 of the third. Neither team scored through the rest of the third and overtime, despite end to end action. In the shootout, Martin St. Pierre scored the only goal to beat Portland 3-2 in the shootout. The Pirates picked up a point in the effort.

Pirates goaltender Jhonas Enroth made 30 saves on 32 shots and took the loss. Tuukka Rask stopped 26 of 28 shots and all five Pirates shootout bids to get the win.

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game: 1. Tuukka Rask (PRO) 2. Vladimir Sobotka (PRO) 3. Mathieu Darche (POR)

Notes: Mathieu Darche has five goals in his last seven games...Marc-Andre Gragnani has two goals and four assists in his last six contests...Attendance: 8,917.

The Pirates return home tomorrow to take on the Springfield Falcons at 4:00 at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The first 2,000 fans receive a free toothbrush sponsored by Northeast Delta Dental. Fans can follow the Pirates on U.S. Cellular Pirates Radio Network or watch the game LIVE on the internet courtesy of AHL Live by clicking the icon on the left side of the home page. The U.S. Cellular Pirates Radio Network includes the Pirates flagship station, the Bay 1400AM and 1490AM (Portland) and affiliates WEZR 1240 AM (Lewiston-Auburn), WTME 780AM (Rumford) and WKTQ 1450AM (South Paris).

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American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2009


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