Pirates Weekly

Published on February 22, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


The Pirates established a new franchise records for consecutive wins in action last week going 3-0-0-1 in four games. Three straight wins to start last week's play moved the Pirates winning streak to 11 games, one better than the 10-game streak recorded in November 1996. A home win over Hartford (7-4) followed by come-from-behind road victories Friday in Albany (3-2) and Saturday in Rochester (4-3) earned the 2009-10 version of the Pirates a place in the record book. The week concluded with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Americans on Sunday afternoon, ending the Pirates winning streak and leaving Portland 32-16-5-3 and alone in second place in the Atlantic Division.

A busy time in the schedule continues this week as the Pirates play the final five games of a stretch of eight games in 10 days. Tuesday Portland is on home ice against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins at 7 p.m. Wednesday the Unum Challenge continues as the Pirates travel to Worcester in a game that could be a battle for first in the Atlantic Division. The Pirates then face Albany on home ice on Friday, travel to Hartford on Saturday and return to the Cumberland County Civic Center Sunday in a re-match against the River Rats.

Monday afternoon Kyle Wanvig scored twice and added two assists to lead the Portland Pirates to a 7-4 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The win was the Pirates ninth consecutive victory, the second longest winning streak in franchise history. Tyler Ennis added a goal and two assists for the Pirates while Jeff Cowan, Travis Turnbull and Felix Schutz all collected a goal and an assist. Cody McCormick rounded out the scoring. Nigel Williams, Kenny Roche, Dane Byers and Derek Couture scored for the Wolf Pack, who suffered their third straight loss.

Friday the Pirates began a three-game road trip in Albany where Joe DiPenta scored a shorthanded goal with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to lift Portland to a 3-2 win over the River Rats at the Times Union Center. The victory marked the Pirates 10th consecutive win, equaling the franchise record established in 1996-97. Mike Weber and Brad Larsen also scored for the Pirates. Nicolas Blanchard and Jerome Samson replied for Albany, who dropped their second straight.

Derek Whitmore netted the game winning goal early in the third period as the Pirates came-from-behind for the second straight game to post their franchise record 11th straight victory, a 4-3 win over the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena. The Pirates topped the franchise standard of 10 straight wins established from November 8-27, 1996. Philip Gogulla added a pair of goals for the Pirates while Schutz rounded out the goal scoring. T.J. Brennan collected three assists. Jamie Johnson, Clay Wilson and Shawn Matthias replied for the Amerks, who dropped their fourth straight.

Mike York scored with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation and then supplied the deciding goal in a shootout to lift the Americans to a 3-2 win over the Pirates Sunday afternoon Blue Cross Arena. The loss ended the Pirates franchise record 11 game winning streak. Jeff Taffe netted the other goal for Rochester, who ended a four-game losing streak with the win. Jamie Johnson and Evgeny Dadonov also scored for the Amerks in the shootout. Marc-Andre Gragnani and Schutz scored for the Pirates. Drew Schiestel and Ennis were successful in the shootout for Portland.

This Week:

The Pirates are on home ice Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in Worcester to continue the Unum Challenge on Wednesday, home Friday at 7 p.m. against Albany, in Harford on Saturday and home again against Albany on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 vs. Wilkes-Barre (CCCC), 7 p.m.

Wilkes-Barre enters this week's action fourth in the East with a 29-26-1-1 record.

The Penguins have won six straight heading into the game, the second longest active winning streak in the AHL.

The Penguins are four games under 500 on the road (11-15-1-1)

2010 AHL All-Star Dustin Jeffrey is tied for eighth in League scoring with 55 points in 54 games.

Wilkes-Barre beat the Pirates 6-1 on home ice in their only previous meeting this season back on November 11th.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 @ Worcester (DCU Center), 7:05 p.m.

The Sharks at 35-17-2-2 on the season and lead the Pirates by two points in the race for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Their 19 home wins are tied for the most in the Atlantic Division.

Steven Zalewski is 13th in AHL scoring with 53 points in 55 games.

Worcester features two of the top three rookies scorers in the League. Logan Couture is second with 45 points in 33 games while Benn Ferriero has 40 points in 35 games.

The Pirates lead the Unum Challenge with a record of 3-1-1-1 against the Sharks this season.

Friday, February 26, 2010 vs. Albany River Rats (CCCC), 7 p.m.

lbany heads into this week's action with a 30-23-3-3 record, good enough for second place in the East Division.

Jerome Samson is tied for 15th in AHL scoring with 49 points in 57 games.

The four-game season series is even at one after the Pirates shaded the River Rats 3-2 on Friday in Albany.

The two teams wrap up their season series Sunday afternoon at the CCCC in a 4 p.m. start.

Saturday, February 27, 2010 @ Hartford (XL Center), 7 p.m.

Hartford enters the week standing tied for sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 26-26-3-4 record.

The Wolf Pack has surrendered 183 goals, the third most in the Eastern Conference.

2010 AHL All-Star Corey Locke is third in AHL scoring with 66 points in 59 games. His 42 assists are fourth most in the League.

Portland has won three of the four meetings between the two teams and has collected at least one point in all four games (3-0-1-0).

Sunday, February 28, 2010 vs. Albany River Rats (CCCC), 4 p.m.

Recent Pirates Transaction: None

Pirates Events:

Tuesday, February 23rd vs. Wilkes-Barre 7 p.m.

Two for Tuesday, Sun Tan City Ladies Nights & Bingo Night at the Pirates Pirates fans can purchase a pair of tickets for only $22 for any Tuesday night game! Also on Tuesday night games make sure to visit local restaurants, like Binga's Winga's at the Stadium for special discounts, Rivalries for 2 for 1 wings, $2.50 draft beers at Dogfish, and 1/2 price pitchers and a 10" pizza special at the Portland Pie Company! Also make sure to listen to "Portland Pirates Two for Tuesday's" on WBLM for exclusive ticket offers as well as visit the Empire for Clash of the Titans after you watch the "Titans of hockey clash at the Cumberland County Civic Center."

Tuesday is Sun Tan City Ladies Nights.

Ladies can get an additional $2 off each ticket purchased for any Tuesday night game with a coupon available at any Sun Tan City location! Plus, more specials are available from Sun Tan City at every Tuesday game. nd don't forget to bring your ticket back to Sun Tan City after the game for 33% off any product purchase. Every Tuesday play Portland Pirates Bingo! Complete an entry form at Customer Service and receive a Portland Pirates Bingo Card! Fans can follow the game and mark down the numbers of the players who score, earn an assist, or receive penalties! Match five numbers in a row and YOU win some great Portland Pirates prizes! Tickets for the game are available by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or going on-line at portlandpirates.com.

Friday, February 26th vs. Albany 7 p.m.

Good Shepherd Food Bank Night, Student Achiever Night & Gritty's Mug Club Night

The Good Shepherd Food Bank will be accepting non-perishable food donations for local charities. In return for your generosity Pirates fans will receive a pair of tickets for a future home game. It's also the third Student Achiever Night of the season. The Pirates will welcome all Student Achievers and their families from across the state to the game. To learn more information about the Pirates Student Achiever Program contact Brian Fitzmaurice, Director, Ticket Sales/Youth Hockey at (207) 828-4665 x307 or email bfitzmaurice@portlandpirates.com. Make sure you stop by Gritty's in Portland, Freeport or Lewiston and receive 2 FREE Pirates tickets and special discount tickets for any additional tickets purchased courtesy of the Pirates and Gritty's. Tickets for the game are available by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or going on-line at portlandpirates.com.

Sunday, February 28th vs. Albany 4 p.m.

Day of Hockey presented by Irving Oil and Five County Credit Union T-Shirt Giveaway Join us for the "Day of Hockey" to benefit the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, sponsored by Irving Oil and supported by the Cumberland County Civic Center. The day-long event, presented by the Portland Pirates Foundation and Huskies Youth Hockey, will feature a Huskies Youth Hockey a mite round robin tournament from 7-10 AM followed by the Southern Maine Law Enforcement All-Star hockey team taking on the Portland Fire Department Men's Hockey Team at 12:30 PM. The Pirates game against the Albany River Rats at 4 PM wraps up the daylong event. In addition, the first 2,500 fans into the Pirates game receive a Pirates t-shirt courtesy of Five County Federal Credit Union.

It's the second Sudzie Family Five Packs game of the season. Purchase a Sudzie Family five Pack for the game and get 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 a value of $60. Tickets for the game are available by calling (207) 775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or going on- line at portlandpirates.com.

Pirates Promotions:

Sudzie Family Five Packs - Are available for Sunday games during the 2009-10 season and provide you with five Main Deck Tickets, five Hot Dogs or Pizza Slices, five Sodas, and one "Daily Scroll" all for the discounted price of $60. This season, with each purchase of a Sudzie Family Five Pack, fans will receive a coupon for one (1) free Sudzie Minuteman Exterior Wash (valued at $11). In total, that's a value of $123! For more information call a Portland Pirates Ticket Representative at 207-828-4665 ext. 350.

SUBWAY Flex Books - Flex Books made fresh by SUBWAY are packs of five or 10-ticket vouchers that can be used for any Pirates 2009-2010 regular season home game (subject to availability). This season, SUBWAY will provide one (1) promotional coupon valid for one (1) FREE 6" sub for each set of five flex tickets purchased. Fans that purchase a 10-pack will receive two (2) SUBWAY coupons. Coupons are available while supplies last. For more information call a Portland Pirates Ticket Representative at 207-828-4665 ext. 350.

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



American Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2010


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