Pirates Sail Past Lowell, 5-2

December 6, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Lowell, MA - Colton Fretter scored a hat trick to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Saturday night at Tsongas Arena. Jhonas Enroth made 31 saves to pick up his eighth win of the season.

The Devils scored first, when Benoit Mondou got his first point of the year 6:02 into the opening period with a goal assisted by Vladimir Zharkov. Portland would hold a 9-6 edge in shots after 20 minutes, but Mondou's goal was the only score of the period, and the Devils took a 1-0 lead into the second period.

Portland carried the play in the second period, but was not rewarded until the second half of the period. The Pirates then proved they are still capable of scoring in bunches. On a power play, Colton Fretter jammed a loose puck home for his fifth goal of the year with the assists going to Tim Kennedy and Mathieu Darche. Fretter wasn't done yet though, just 2:25 later he scored his sixth of the year at even strength with the assist going to Matt Ellis.

Portland kept the pressure on with a power play a few moments later. Marek Zagrapan snuck a short angle shot past Lowell netminder Dave Caruso. Zagrapan's fourth of the year was assisted by Kennedy and Butler. Portland used the second period surge to take a 3-1 lead into the final frame.

In the third period, Lowell cut the game down to a one goal lead as Anssi Salmela scored his second goal of the year from Pascal Rheaume. But Salmela would handicap his team moments later when he through a hit from behind on Mike Funk in the corner, and was given a five minute major for checking from behind. Funk would leave the game with an injury, and did not return. The Pirates took advantage of the major penalty as just :15 into the power play Mathieu Darche scored his eighth goal of the year from Aaron Slattengren and Mark Mancari. Darche deflected a shot from the point past Caruso to give Portland a 4-2 lead.

A little under four minutes later and still on the power play, Colton Fretter notched one for a hat trick as his third of the night came from Chris Butler and Mike Weber. That would leave the final score 5-2, with Portland grabbing a road win.

Jhonas Enroth stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced, to pick up the win and improve to 8-2-2 on the season. Dave Caruso stopped 28 of 33 shots he faced and picked up the loss, dropping to 1-6-0 on the year.

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game: 1. Colton Fretter (POR) 2. Tim Kennedy (POR) 3. Mathieu Darche (POR)

Notes Colton Fretter notched a hat trick...It's the third Pirates hat trick this season, as Nathan Gerbe had 3 goals and an assist in Worcester on November 5th and Mark Mancari had 3 goals and 2 assists in the season opener against Manchester...Mark Mancari extended his point streak to nine games tonight with an assist after returning from Buffalo today... Attendance: 2,024.

The Pirates will be back in action on Sunday, December 7th when they take on the Worcester Sharks on the road at 4:00. 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).



American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2008


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