Pirates Stun Sound Tigers

Published on December 10, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Bridgeport, Connecticut - Brett MacLean scored twice and Nathan Oystrick, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, and Patrick O'Sullivan all had two point games as the Portland Pirates scored four unanswered goals, including three in the third period, to beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-2 in front of 3,735 fans at Webster Bank Arena Saturday night.

MacLean's first goal of the night tied the score just 28 seconds into the third period after he put back the rebound of an O'Sullivan shot that hit the post behind Bridgeport goalie Anders Nilsson. The goal, a power play tally, was MacLean's fifth of the season and was also assisted by Pouliot.

Portland took the lead when Oystrick banked a shot off of Bridgeport forward Blair Riley and into the net at 4:54 of the third. Oystrick's fifth of the season, the eventual game-winning goal was assisted by Michael Stone and O'Sullivan.

MacLean's second tally was scored into an empty net at 18:53 with an assist from Matt Watkins to cap the comeback.

That comeback began midway through the second period when Oystrick fed Brock Trotter in front to finish off a two-on-one breakaway with a tip at 12:47. Marc-Antoine Pouliot also assisted on the goal, Trotter's second in as many games.

Bridgeport scored both of their goals in the opening period on the Power Play. Scott Howes netted his first goal of the night off a rebound in front of Portland netminder Curtis McElhinney with assists from Rhett Rakhshani and Calvin de Haan at 8:59 of the opening frame. Then, Jeremy Colliton would score his seventh of the season on a power play off the rebound of a Ty Wishart shot at 14:46 to double the lead before the end of the period. Howes also assisted.

McElhinney stopped 28 shots in the win to improve to 8-9-0 on the season, while Nilsson saved 25 shots to fall to 5-4-1 on the season. Portland was outshot by Bridgeport 30-29 for the game.

The win is Portland's second straight, pulling them into a tie for ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings with Bridgeport. Portland is 12-10-1-1, while Bridgeport dropped to 11-10-3-1.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were: 1. MacLean POR; 2. Howes BRI; 3. Oystrick POR.

The Pirates will play again tomorrow afternoon,Sunday, at 3 p.m., at the Verizon Wireless Arena against their archrivals, the Manchester Monarchs. Fans can catch all of the action with broadcaster Jeff Mannix on the Portland Pirates Radio Network, WPEI 95.9 and 95.5, beginning with the pregame show at 2:45 p.m.

Pirates hockey will return to the Civic Center on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. when the Manchester Monarchs come to town for the sixth of 12 meetings this season. The Portland Pirates Holiday Toy Drive will continue and all toy donations to Toys for Tots and cash donations to the Bruce Roberts Toy Fund will be rewarded with a pair of tickets to a future Pirates game. The Bruce Roberts Toy Fund assists children from birth through age 18 in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and York counties during the holiday season. Parents and legal guardians of children 18 and under can apply at The Welcome Center, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, and through local service organizations or call (207-791-6672) to have an application sent by mail.

Now is the time to cash in on great savings by purchasing discounted ticket plans and advance tickets for the Pirates 2011-12 season. Ticket packages are available to meet all budgets and schedules. Call a Pirates ticket representative today at 207-828-4665 x350 to reserve your seats for any combination of games that Pirates hockey, "Coyotes Style", has to offer. Individual tickets for the each of the remaining 28 home games of the Pirates 2011-12 regular season schedule are on sale and fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Pirates ticket office, Cumberland County Civic Center box office (open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2011


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