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Pirates hang on to playoff hopes

March 25, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME - The Portland Pirates could not build any momentum off of three straight home wins and lost every game of a four-game road trip last week. The Pirates can look with optimism toward the week ahead when they will play two of three games at home. The Pirates lost at Quebec, Norfolk, Bridgeport and Hershey and fell behind Manitoba and St. John's by six points in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pirates will host Manchester on Thursday and then travel to Bridgeport on Friday before returning home on Saturday to host St. John's. The Pirates begin the week in fourth place in the American Hockey League's North Division and in eleventh in the Eastern Conference. They have a record of 26-29-15-3, good for 70 points. LAST WEEK:

Tuesday, March 19, 2002: Quebec 5 Pirates 2
The Citadelles earned their revenge on the Pirates after suffering an 11-4 drubbing in Portland in the week prior. The Pirates built a 1-0 lead after one on a Jason Ulmer goal. The Citadelles would take command in the second on a goal by former Pirate Benoit Gratton and two by Eric Landry. Nick Naumenko gave the Pirates some hope with a goal just 26 seconds after Landry's second tally. But Landry would complete the hat trick in the third period and Patrick Poulin would get another for the 5-2 final. It was the first decision in four games played at Colisee Pepsi. The other three had ended in ties.

Friday, March 22, 2002: Norfolk 2 Pirates 1
The Pirates fell behind the Admirals during their only visit to Norfolk this season. Quintin Laing scored a powerplay goal late in the first period to put the home team up 1-0 after one. Valeri Zelepukin added an even-strength goal in the second period. Ivan Ciernik quashed goalie Craig Andersson's shutout bid with a goal just 15 seconds shy of the game's end. The Pirates could not get the equalizer in the remaining seconds and finished the season 0-1-1-0 against Norfolk.

Saturday, March 23, 2002: Bridgeport 3 Pirates 1
Making their first ever appearance in Bridgeport, the Pirates got off to a good start. Mark Murphy set up Ciernik for his second goal in as many games to put Portland up 1-0 after one. The Sound Tigers tied the game on a powerplay in the second period. Dave Roche converted a net mouth scramble to make it 1-1. Trent Hunter gave the Sound Tigers their first lead of the night when he slipped a backhander under the crossbar off a feed from Juraj Kolnik midway through the period. Roche added an even-strength marker just 1:45 later to conclude the scoring. The Pirates had several chances on goalie Rick DiPietro in the third but couldn't beat him again.

Sunday, March 24, 2002: Hershey 5 Pirates 1
The Pirates' final trip to venerable Hersheypark Arena was less than memorable. The Bears got goals from Kelly Fairchild and Tavis Hansen in the first 5:01 of the game to lead 2-0 after one. The Pirates controlled the play in the second and finally solved goalie Phil Sauve when Murphy tallied off a Ciernik rebound. The Bears squelched any comeback bid with three goals in the third. Hansen got his second of the night at 7:52. Jeff Daw scored on a powerplay at 14:02 and Steve Moore followed with an even-strength goal just 14 seconds later for the 5-1 final. The teams split the two-game season series.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

DAY DATE EVENT TIME BROADCAST
Monday Mar. 25 Day Off
Tuesday Mar. 26 Practice at PIA 9:45 --11:15 AM
Wednesday Mar. 27 Practice at PIA 9:45 - 11:15 am
Thursday Mar. 28 Morning Skate 10:00 AM
Game vs. Manchester 6:05 PM PRN
Friday Mar. 29 Morning Skate 11:15 AM
Game at Bridgeport 8:05 PM PRN
Saturday Mar. 30 Game vs. St. John's 7:35 PM ABC-8, PRN
Sunday Mar. 31 Day Off
PRN: Pirates' Radio Network

THREE-IN-THREE AWAIT THE PIRATES
The Pirates will play their final three-in-three weekend this week beginning at home on Thursday night against the Manchester Monarchs. This is the final meeting of ten between the two teams. The Pirates lead the season series, 4-2-2-and are unbeaten in their last three outings against the Monarchs (2-0-1-0). On Friday, the Pirates play their final game of the season against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Pirates lead the season series 2-1-0-0. Both wins have come in Portland. The Pirates finish the string back home on Saturday as they host the St. John's Maple Leafs at 7:35 p.m. The Leafs beat the Pirates 5-2 back on January 26th to even the season series at 1-1-1-0. All-time, the Pirates are 19-5-2 at home against St. John's.

SHIP'S LOG:
· Right wing Ivan Ciernik has now scored points in five straight games, one away from the season-high by a Pirates' player. He factored into the scoring of four of the Pirates' five goals last week and now has points in nine of his last ten games played (6-5-11).
· The Pirates scored just five goals in four games last week including single goals in the last three.
· Goaltender Maxime Ouellet made his Pirates' debut on Saturday, March 23rd in the 3-1 loss at Bridgeport. Ouellet made 22 saves.

TRANSACTIONS:
3/18/02 Delete: Stephen Peat (RW), recalled from loan by Washington (NHL)
3/19/02 Add: Maxime Ouellet (G), reassigned on loan by Washington (NHL)
3/20/02 Add: Stephen Peat (RW), reassigned on loan by Washington (NHL)
3/20/02 Delete: Brad Church (LW), traded to Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) for future considerations
3/21/02 Delete: Corey Hirsch (G), reassigned on loan by Washington (NHL) to Philadelphia (AHL)
3/22/02 Delete: Patrick Boileau (D), recalled under emergency conditions by Washington (NHL)
3/22/02 Add: Nathan Forster (D), recalled under emergency conditions from Richmond (ECHL)

ON THE AIR:
The Pirates' game on Saturday versus Quebec will be televised live on ABC-8, WMTW. Norm Karkos will call the play-by-play and Steve DeOssie will handle the color duties. Melissa Pearch provides intermission interview and features. John Gregory is the producer.

All Pirates' games can be heard live on the Pirates Radio Network. Sports Radio, WJAB, am-1440 and fm-95.5 serve as the flagship stations. Games may also be heard on WKTQ am-1450, South Paris; WOXO fm-92.7, Norway; WTME am-790 Rumford and WTBM fm-100.7, Mexico. All games may also be heard on the Internet at portlandpirates.com.

GAME HOTLINE:
Members of the media can receive a recap of each Pirate game, home or away, by calling the Pirates' office at (207) 828-4665 and dialing 3-2-2 when the automated attendant picks up. Recaps will include scoring, goaltenders, shots, powerplays, attendance and any records or notables. Up to date Pirates' news is also available at www.portlandpirates.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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