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Pirates point streak reaches baker's dozen

February 23, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME – The Portland Pirates kept their point machine humming last week with six of a possible ten points, earning at least a point in all five games, and stretching their point streak to 13 overall. It was easily their busiest week of the season and through it, the Pirates earned a win, an overtime loss and three ties to move into a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Pirates have a record of 22-17-11-7, good for 62 points, the same total as the Manchester Monarchs who have a game in hand. The Pirates are 5-0-4-1 in their last ten games. They will finish the week on the road with the final three games of a four-game road swing. On Wednesday, the Pirates will visit the Manchester Monarchs. On Friday, they'll make their longest trip from Portland by venturing to St. John's, Newfoundland for games against the St. John's Maple Leafs on Friday and Saturday. They will be the final two games the Pirates will play against a team from the Western Conference.

LAST WEEK:

Monday, February 16, 2004: Pirates 2, Lowell 0

The Pirates broke two records, one of them an American Hockey League standard, and skated away with a 2-0 win over the Lowell Lock Monsters at the Civic Center. The win was the Pirates' 12th shutout of the year, breaking their record set last year. It was also their tenth home shutout, one better than the AHL record they set last year as well. The Pirates weathered an early storm from their opponents and broke on top with a powerplay goal. Colin Forbes and Francois Methot worked a perfect give-and-go off the right wing boards. Forbes finished the play with his eleventh goal of the year. After a scoreless second period, the Pirates got the insurance goal they sought midway through the third period. Mike Pudlick's blast from the blue line hit a glass support and ricocheted back into the slot. Forbes settled the bouncing puck and roofed it over a sprawling Patrick DesRochers for his second goal of the night.

Wednesday, February 18, 2004: Bridgeport 2, Pirates 1 OT

The Pirates fought back from a one-goal deficit against the American Hockey League's best defensive team but were victimized by a former Pirate in overtime, losing 2-1 to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The loss ended the Pirates six-game unbeaten streak. The Pirates carried the play in the opening period, outshooting the Sound Tigers 13-6. Still, it was the home team that broke the deadlock. Leading scorer Jeff Hamilton threw the puck through traffic and beat Maxime Ouellet for his 29th goal of the year, tying him for the AHL lead in goal scoring. The Pirates continued their territorial dominance of the Sound Tigers in the second, outshooting Bridgeport 9-2. The two shots allowed in a period were a new season low. Still, the Pirates deficit remained one. The Pirates tied the game late in the third period when Francois Methot won a face-off in the right wing corner of the Bridgeport zone. He chased down the puck, curled the net and beat Dubielewicz with a wrist shot to make it 1-1. The deciding goal came when former Pirate Derek Bekar broke down the right wing and got off a shot that hit the outside of the net. Another former Pirate, Martin Kariya, scooped up the loose puck and fed Bekar back in front who beat Ouellet with a top corner shot for his 19th goal of the year. The Sound Tigers swept the season series from the Pirates, winning both games in overtime.

Friday, February 20, 2004: Pirates 3, Springfield 3 OT

The Pirates surrendered a third period goal and settled for a 3-3 tie with the Springfield Falcons. The game was the first of four straight for the Pirates against Atlantic Division opponents. The Falcons broke on top just 2:19 into the game when former Pirate Chris Ferraro tipped in a shot by Jeremiah McCarthy. The Pirates evened the game late in the period. Boyd Gordon slipped to the net along the goal line and tried to jam the puck in. Goalie David LeNeveu blocked the shot, but the rebound came to Francois Methot who tossed in his fourth goal of the season. The Pirates took their first lead of the night on a powerplay midway through the second period. Methot, from behind the net, threw the puck in the slot to Graham Mink who flipped home his team-leading 17th goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, the Falcons responded. Krystofer Kolanos held the puck in traffic, waited for a screen to form in front of Maxime Ouellet and then wristed home his tenth goal of the year. The Pirates got the lead back with another powerplay just over two minutes later. Again, it was Methot with a nifty feed, sending the puck across the slot to an untouched Colin Forbes who beat LeNeveu from a sharp angle to give the Pirates a 3-2 edge after two. The Falcons outshot the Pirates 14-3 in the third period and tied the game when Kolanos hit the post with a wrist shot. The rebound dropped into the crease where Peter Ferraro pounded it in for his 12th goal this season. The Pirates got another powerplay in overtime when Chris Ferraro was called for a holding minor, but they could not dent LeNeveu again. The 3-3 tie is the second in the season series between the two teams

Saturday, February 21, 2004: Pirates 1, Manchester 1 OT

For the second straight game, the Pirates were victimized by a third period goal and had to settle for a tie, this time to the Manchester Monarchs 1-1. The two teams skated through a scoreless first period. The Pirates had the better of the shots, 15-5, and had the better scoring chances, but each time, they were turned aside by Adam Hauser. The Pirates finally snapped the deadlock in the second period. Jason Ulmer got free down the left wing. He cut in and beat Hauser with a wrist shot through the five hole for his eighth goal of the season. The Monarchs had four powerplays in the third period and could not score, but they used the resulting momentum to tie the game. Jerred Smithson set up Noah Clarke alone in front, and he scored his 19th goal of the year at 18:02 of the third period. For the second consecutive night, the Pirates had a powerplay in overtime when Bryan Muir was whistled for roughing at the end of regulation, but the Pirates could not convert and instead hung on for the 1-1 tie.

Sunday, February 22, 2004: Pirates 2, Lowell 2 OT

The Pirates tied a franchise mark with their third consecutive tie. They skated to a 2-2 draw with the Lowell Lock Monsters at Tsongas Arena. The Lock Monsters started quickly carrying the play and scoring just 2:26 in when Tomas Kurka fed Ryan Bayda alone at the right post for his fifth goal of the year. The Pirates settled down and tied the game late in the period. Colin Forbes slipped the puck through traffic to Francois Methot who quickly set up Mike Vigilante who beat Jamie Storr with a low wrist shot for his fifth goal of the season. It looked as if the Lock Monsters had retaken the lead later in the second period, but referee Jeff Smith ruled that David Inman had knocked the puck in with a high stick. The Pirates made their own break in the late going of the period. Vigilante sent Forbes away down the left wing creating a two-on-one with Jason Ulmer. Forbes tried to pass across the slot but defenseman Tomas Malec knocked it down and took the feet out from under Forbes. From his knees, Forbes poked the puck just across the goal line to put the Pirates up 2-1 after two. The Pirates earned a tie in their last two games and in each case, they had surrendered the game-tying goal in the third period. They were bitten again early in the third period of this game when Jason Morgan set up Inman for his seventh goal of the year just 1:17 into the period. What could have been a crushing goal for the weary Pirates turned out to be just the opposite. The Pirates played staunch defense through the balance of regulation and overtime to preserve the 2-2 tie.

PIRATES NOMINATE METHOT AS SHER-WOOD/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The Portland Pirates nominated center Francois Methot as the Sher-Wood/AHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 22, 2004. In five games last week, Methot scored two goals and five assists for seven points. On Monday, Methot assisted on both Pirates' goals in a 2-0 win over Lowell. He had the Pirates only goal on Wednesday in a 2-1 overtime loss at Bridgeport. On Friday, the native of Montreal, Quebec figured into the scoring of all three Pirates' goals, scoring one and assisting on the other two in a 3-3 tie with Springfield. He finished the week with an assist on the Pirates' first goal in a 2-2 tie at Lowell. Going back to last week, Methot has points in five of the last six Pirates' games.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

DAY DATE EVENT TIME BROADCAST

Monday Feb. 23 DAY OFF

Tuesday Feb. 24 Practice at PIA 9:45 – 11:15 AM

Wednesday Feb. 25 Morning Skate at PIA 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Game at Manchester 7:05 PM PRN

Thursday Feb. 26 Travel to St. John's, Newfoundland

Friday Feb. 27 Morning Skate at Mile One Stadium 9:45 – 10:45 AM

Game at St. John's 6:05 PM PRN

Saturday Feb. 28 Morning Skate at Mile One Stadium 9:45 – 10:45 AM

Game at St. John's 6:05 PM PRN

Sunday Feb. 29 Travel to Portland

(All times listed are Eastern Standard Time)

PRN: Pirates Radio Network

PIRATES PLAY THREE ROAD GAMES THIS WEEK

- Wednesday, February 25, 2004 at Manchester, 7:05 PM

The Pirates and the Monarchs square off for the second time in five days, the eighth meeting overall in the ten-game season series. So far, the Pirates have gone 2-3-1-1 against the Los Angeles Kings' top development team. They are 0-3-0-0 at Manchester's Verizon Wireless Arena. All time, the Pirates are 9-13-5 against Manchester and 3-7-3 in the Granite State. The Pirates and Monarchs begin the week tied for second place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points. The Monarchs have gotten there by virtue of a 27-21-5-3 record. The Monarchs have feasted on opponents at home, posting a record of 17-7-1-2 there. Pavel Rosa leads the team in scoring with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points. That total puts him third overall in the AHL. Steve Kelly is second in scoring with 48 points. He has missed four games with an injury. The Monarchs will host the Binghamton Senators on Monday before welcoming the Pirates.

- Friday & Saturday, February 27 & 28, 2004 at St. John's, 6:05 PM EST

The Pirates make their only trip to Canada over the weekend to renew their rivalry with the St. John's Maple Leafs. The teams traded shutouts back in October in Portland. The Pirates won 5-0 on October 24th while the Leafs prevailed 1-0 on October 26th. All time, the Pirates have dominated the series with the Leafs going 35-18-7. They are 13-11-5 all time in St. John's, Newfoundland. Last year, the Pirates split a pair of games at Mile One Stadium. The Maple Leafs begin the week in sixth place in the AHL's North Division with a record of 22-26-7-3, good for 54 points. The Leafs are 2-5-2-1 in their last ten games. They have also posted a sub-.500 record at home, going 10-13-5-0 at Mile One. Aaron Gavey leads the Leafs in scoring with 16 goals and 30 assists for 46 points. His assist total is also a team high. The AHL's rookie scoring leader, Kyle Wellwood is second in scoring with 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points. Newfoundland native Harold Druken is third in scoring with 37 points. Brad Leeb is the Leafs' leading goal scorer with 17 and is fourth in scoring with 36 points. Sebastien Centomo has posted a record of 9-12-3 in 27 games in the Leafs' goal. He has a goals-against average of 2.88. The Leafs do not play before hosting the Pirates on Friday.

SHIP'S LOG:

· The Pirates played three consecutive ties to end the week, tying a franchise record set during the 1996-97 season when they skated to three straight 3-3 deadlocks from February 21 -24, 1997. They have played in four consecutive overtimes games overall, also tying a franchise record set that year.

· During that same season, the Pirates set a franchise record for most overtime games in a season at 24 (7-7-10). At the time, it was also an AHL record. The Pirates have played a league-high 23 overtime games this year.

· The Pirates' penalty killers continue their steady climb upward. The Pirates have now killed 32 consecutive penalties and 52 of the last 53, a success rate of 98.1%.

· The Pirates have allowed just nine powerplay goals at home in 112 shorthanded situations, a success rate of 92% that is best in the AHL.

· The Pirates have earned points in 13 straight games (6-0-4-3). Their last regulation loss was January 24th, 3-2 to Lowell.

· Defenseman Corey Hessler made his AHL debut with the Pirates on Sunday, February 22nd at Lowell. He was recalled from the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL that day.

TRANSACTIONS:

2/16/04 ADD Maxime Ouellet (G), reassigned on loan from Washington (NHL)

2/17/04 DELETE Maxime Ouellet (G), recalled from loan by Washington (NHL)

2/18/04 ADD Maxime Ouellet (G), reassigned on loan from Washington (NHL)

2/18/04 ADD Brooks Laich (C), received on loan from Washington (NHL)

2/19/04 DELETE Scott Stirling (G), reassigned to Atlantic City (ECHL)

2/20/04 DELETE Mike Souza (LW), released from PTO

2/22/04 ADD Corey Hessler (D), signed to a PTO

IN THE COMMUNITY:

On Tuesday, head coach Tim Army will appear on WJAB's "Morning JAB" program at 8:00 a.m. Later in the day, the Pirates will visit the King Middle School after school program in Portland as part of NHL Diversity's Hockey Is For Everyone program. Pirates players Rastislav Stana and Louis Robitaille and Portland Junior Pirates Jonathan LaChance and Francois Gagnon will speak to students at the school for whom English is a second language on their own experiences learning a new language and living in a different culture. The program will run from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. On Friday, Pirates' broadcaster Dave Ahlers is a guest of WJAB's "Morning JAB" program at 8:00 a.m. For a complete list of past and upcoming community appearances, check out the "In The Community" section of the Pirates' web site, portlandpirates.com.

ON THE AIR:

Once again this season, all the action of Portland Pirates' hockey may be heard on Flagship Station WJAB, AM-1440 and FM-95.5 in Portland and on network affiliates WKTQ AM-1450, South Paris; WTME AM-790 Rumford and 1220 AM, ESPN Radio in Sanford. All games may also be heard on the Pirates' web site, www.portlandpirates.com.

GAME HOTLINE:

Members of the media and fans can receive a recap of each Pirates' 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. Game recaps and other Pirates' news is also available at www.portlandpirates.com. Official AHL box scores are available at the AHL's official web site, www.theahl.com.



American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2004


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