Pirates Win Fifth Straight Over Phantoms, 5-3

November 8, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, ME - Mathieu Darche scored twice and Mark Mancari picked up a goal and three assists as the Portland Pirates won their fifth straight contest and picked up a point for the eight straight game. Mancari extended his scoring streak to five games, while Darche has three goals and four assists in the last five games.

The Pirates looked good in their special red, white and blue stars and stripes jerseys sponsored by Martin's Point Healthcare on Veteran's Night. It was the second of four special jerseys the Pirates will wear this season. Portland donned pink sweaters to help raise money for breast cancer earlier this season. The Pirates will wear Buffalo Sabres warmup jerseys on February 28th and Maine Mariners jerseys on March 28th.

The Pirates struck first as Tim Kennedy used a little help from a Mathieu Darche screen to beat former Pirate J.S. Aubin. The goal came on a power play and Mark Mancari and Darche picked up the assists. Mancari extended his point streak to five games. The Phantoms came back just over three minutes as Claude Giroux scored his fourth of the year from Danny Syvret and David Laliberte. After one period, the Pirates had a 5-4 edge in shots.

Nearing the midpoint of the second period, the Pirates regained the lead when Aaron Slattengren threw a rebound back on net and banked it in off Aubin. Colton Fretter and Marc-Andre Gragnani picked up assists on the play. Once again though, Philadelphia responded quickly. Two minutes and 42 seconds later, Jared Ross notched his fourth goal of the season from Laliberte and Jason DeSantis. It went down as a short-handed goal as it was scored one second after Jimmy Bonneau was released from a boarding penalty, giving Portland an abbreviated power play.

Portland and Philadelphia went into the third period tied at 2, but the Pirates had all the jump early on in the final frame. Mark Mancari made a beautiful pass from the right wing to Mathieu Darche in front. Darche redirected it into a wide open net to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Just two minutes and 29 seconds later, it was a mirror image as Mancari sent a cross ice pass to Darche on the right doorstep for a slam dunk goal. It was Darche's third of the year and second of the game, and Tim Kennedy picked up the second assist along with Mancari to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead with 14:48 left in the third period.

The Phantoms wouldn't go down without a fight though, as Jonathan Matsumoto scored a power play goal from Claude Giroux. Philadelphia went right back onto the power play as Mike Weber was whistled for another minor immediately after leaving the box, but the Phantoms couldn't capitalize. Mark Mancari fired for the empty net from center ice and sealed the win with his ninth goal of the season. The unassisted tally capped off a four point night for Mancari, who also scored 3 assists.

Portland goaltender Jhonas Enroth stopped 16 of the 19 shots he faced to pick up his fifth straight win. Enroth improves to 5-1-0-0. Phantoms netminder J.S. Aubin stopped 17 of the 21 shots fired his way, but dropped to 3-5-0-0 on the year.

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



American Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2008


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