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Pirates Pour Offense All Over Falcons

January 10, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME - On Saturday, Labatt Blue Light Hockey Night in Portland, the Portland Pirates came away with a 5-2 win over the Springfield Falcons at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The Pirates will host the Falcons on Sunday in a rematch at 4:00pm.

This is the seventh time this season the Pirates have scored five goals at home, resulting in a free medium french fries at local participating McDonald's. The offer is good through January 11th. Each time the Pirates score five or more goals in a game, all fans receive a voucher for a free medium fries at McDonald's.

Portland opened the scoring at the 5:31 mark of the first period on Marek Zagapan's 11th goal of the season. Zagrapan took a slick pass from Mathieu Darche through the crease and beat Jeff Deslauriers to the stick side to give the Pirates the 1-0 lead.

The Pirates extended their lead at the 18:41 mark to 2-0 when Felix Schutz skated around the Springfield goal and fed the puck out to the point where Zach Tarkir fired home his 2nd goal of the year.

At the 12:10 mark of the second period, Mathieu Darche used a power play opportunity to extend the Pirates lead with his 13th goal of the season. Colton Fretter took the original shot off the left wing circle, that Springfield goalie Jeff Deslauriers kicked out to the slot. From there, Darche pounded home the rebound past Deslauriers to put Portland up 3-0.

The Pirates bumped the lead to 4-0 at the 16:57 mark of the middle frame, when Marek Zagrapan tipped home his 2nd goal of the game on a shot by Mathieu Darche.

Just 24 seconds later, Springfield notched their first goal of the game as Taylor Chorney finished off a long rush up ice for his 4th goal of the season.

In the third period, the Falcons cut into the Portland lead again on Patrick Bordeleau's 1st goal of season. Bordeleau's shot beat a screened Enroth to make the score 4-2.

The Pirates closed the scoring with an empty netter from Mark Mancari to give the Pirates the 5-2 win.

Portland goaltender Jhonas Enroth made his 12th consecutive start turning aside 31 of 33 shots in the win. Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk combined to make 22 saves in the loss.

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game: 1. Marek Zagrapan (POR) 2. Mathieu Darche (POR) 3. Nathan Gerbe (POR)

Notes: Pirates forward Nathan Gerbe had three assists. Pirates forward Marek Zagrapan scored two goals and an assist in the victory. The Pirates were 1 for 6 on the power play. The Falcons were 1 for 8 with the man advantage. Portland is 8 for their last 77 opportunities. Former Pirate Matt Libby provided color commentary for the Pirates television broadcast on Time Warner Cable Sports. Before the game, the Pirates released goalie Ray Jean and signed a former Hobey Baker Finalist, goalie Bobby Goepfert to a PTO.

The Pirates next home game is Sunday, January 11th, when the Pirates and Springfield Falcons collide in a rematch at the Cumberland County Civic Center at 4:00pm. Don't forget, Sudzie Family Five Packs are available for all Sunday home games and provide fans with five Main Deck tickets, five hot dogs or pizza slices, five sodas, one Daily Scroll game program and one free Sudzie Minuteman exterior car wash for the discounted price of $60. On Sunday the Pirates will also welcome momslikeme.com! Visit momslikeme.com and click on the Pirates ad for a special $13 Main Deck ticket offer for moms.

Can't make it to the game? 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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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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