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Pirates Take Game One of the Eimskip Port-To-Port Challenge

January 8, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


St. John's, NL-The Portland Pirates (19-13-1-0) took game one of the Eimskip Port-to-Port Challenge handedly, with a 5-1 win over the St. John's IceCaps (16-10-5-3) at the Mile One Centre Friday night.

Portland fired 20 shots on net in the first period, allowing the IceCaps only six. John McFarland rang the bell for the Pirates when he notched a career-high 12th goal of the season with assists from Rob Schremp and Brent Regner.

Penalties on St. John's Joel Hanley and Morgan Ellis gave the Pirates a five-on-three power play for the final minute of the period. Rob Schremp, who is representing the Pirates on the Atlantic team in the AHL All-Star Game, capitalized on the two-man advantage. Schremp doubled the lead with help from teammates Cameron Gaunce and Regner.

Greg McKegg had the Pirates up 3-0 in his first appearance of 2016 at 6:39 of the second period with assists from Regner and Michael Matheson.

St. John's Bud Holloway snapped Portland's twenty-nine consecutive penalty kill streak, when he scored a power play goal at 12:45 of the second with assists from Morgan Ellis and former Pirate Lucas Lessio.

Connor Brickley tallied a point in his first game with the Pirates since being called up by the Florida Panthers in November. The wrister between the legs of St. John's goaltender Zachary Fucale had the Pirates up 4-1. Gaunce and Schremp both picked up another point with the assists on Brickley's insurance goal.

Brett Olson capped off the night with his third empty net goal of the season, which was unassisted at 19:46 of the final frame of play.

Mike McKenna had another strong performance for the Pirates, shutting the door on 29 of the 30 IceCaps' shots. With the win McKenna improves to a 15-7-1 record.

Zachary Fucale manned the IceCaps' net saving 32 out of the 36 shots the Pirates fired.

The Pirates will stay in St. John's for the second installment of the Eimskip Port-to-Port Challenge against the IceCaps Saturday night at 6 P.M. EST.

The Pirates return home to the Cross Insurance Arena on Friday for the first of a two-game series with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Be one of the first 1,000 fans through the doors to receive a Barry Trotz Bobblehead courtesy of Cross Insurance. Saturday's game is the annual Pink In The Rink game presented by TD Bank. The Pirates will be wearing special pink jerseys to be auctioned off to support the American Cancer Society after the game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Saturday's game. For tickets and more information call 207-PIRATES.

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