Pirates Stun Sound Tigers, Snap Streak

Published on April 16, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, ME - The Portland Pirates scored 2 goals in the last 2:43 of regulation, and Chris Brown netted the game winner just 26 seconds into overtime, and the Portland Pirates stunned the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-4 on Tuesday night. The Pirates win snapped a 4 game losing streak and reduced their magic number to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff spot to 1.

Chris Brown struck first for Portland, giving the Pirates their first lead since their April 5th victory at Manchester. Brown's goal, a power play tally, came with 10:37 to go in the first, giving him 13 power play goals on the year, a team high. Lucas Lessio and David Rundblad picked up the assists, with Lessio's assist his first professional point. The Pirates maintained the lead until the 18 minute mark of the first, when the Sound Tigers' Ty Wishart got the equalizer, with his shot bouncing past Pirates starter Mark Visentin to tie the game at 1. Portland outshot Bridgeport 10-8 in the first period. The Pirates' first period was the first penalty free period for Portland since the third period against Albany on March 30th.

The Sound Tigers took the lead early in the second. David Ullstrom had the unassisted go-ahead goal 52 seconds into the second period to give Bridgeport the 2-1 lead. Despite 2 Pirates penalties in the period and allowing 9 shots on goal, Portland would keep the deficit at 1 through the second period.

In the third, Mark Louis tied the game, scoring his first career goal in a game where he played forward for the first time at the 2:47 mark of the third period. Louis' goal was assisted by David Rundblad and Brendan Shinnimin! Nino Niederreiter gave the Sound Tigers the lead again, scoring just as a Pirates power play ended with 13:56 remaining. Matt Donovan extended the Sound Tigers lead to 2 with 4:05 left in regulation, beating Mark Visentin to give Bridgeport the 4-2 lead.

The Pirates rallied. Brett Hextall brought the Pirates back within 1 with 2:43 to go. Andy Miele and Jordan Martinook had the assists the assists on Hextall's 9th goal of the season. Lucas Lessio, who had tallied his first career assist in the first, then scored the first goal of his pro career with the goaltender pulled and just 58 seconds left in regulation. Lessio's goal was assisted by Troy Bodie and Chris Brown, capping the Pirates comeback and sending the game to overtime.

Chris Brown would cap the Pirates comeback, scoring the game winning goal just 26 seconds into the extra frame to give the Pirates the victory. Brown's second of the game, and 27th of the season, was assisted by Maxim Goncharov and Andy Miele, his second assist of the night.

The Pirates improve to 39-29-3-2, snapping a 4 straight losing streak and dropping their magic number to 1. The Pirates can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a game that goes to overtime on Friday against Bridgeport, or with a loss by both Hershey and Manchester on Friday.

The Pirates get back to action Friday night when they host the Sound Tigers at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Puck drop is set for 7 PM. Friday's game can be heard on 1310 AM WLOB, and online on portlandpiratesradio.com and AHL Live, with the pregame show starting at 6:40 with Jeff Mannix.

Tickets are still available by calling (207) 828-4665 ext. 350 or online at ticketmaster.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2013


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.

OurSports Central