Recent Additions Lead Sharks Past Pirates

January 19, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Worcester, MA - After receiving a brief opportunity to showcase their skills with the NHL's San Jose Sharks, Brandon Mashinter, Andrew Desjardins, and Justin Braun each scored a goal in their first games back with Worcester to lead the home team to a 5-3 victory over the Portland Pirates in an American Hockey League game played tonight in front of 2,439 at the DCU Center.

Tommy Wingels and T.J. Trevelyan also contributed to the scoring effort and Alex Stalock made 27 saves as Worcester avenged their recent 8-3 setback against Portland on Saturday, and improved their record to 20-16-2-5.

Igor Gongalsky scored a goal in his second straight game against Worcester and extended his points streak to three as the Pirates record dropped to 24-13-4-1.

After killing off a lengthy five-on-three Pirates power play early in the first, the Sharks would gain momentum on a power-play goal by Mashinter (first game back after a 10-game stint with San Jose) at 16:18 to give the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room for the first intermission. Worcester would continue their offensive blitz in the second, striking for two in a span of 27 seconds to give them a comfortable 3-0 advantage. Desjardins put one home at the 13:41 mark on a tip-in, and Braun sent a shot from the point off a Portland skate and past Jhonas Enroth at 14:08. Heading into the second intermission, Worcester led Portland in shots 32-9 with most of the action happening in front of Enroth. The Pirates would attempt a comeback three minutes into in the third on Gongalsky's second of the season, however the Sharks would answer as soon as Gongalsky left the penalty box due to a hooking infraction on a strike by Tommy Wingels at 5:23. A second comeback effort would ensue as Derek Whitmore knocked home a power-play goal on a rebound with seven minutes left, and Mark Mancari beat Stalock to cut the Sharks lead to one with just under three minutes remaining. However, Stalock would hold strong against the third period Portland shot barrage (20 shots faced in the period) and Trevelyan sealed the game with an empty-net goal with four seconds left to send the home team to victory.

The Sharks out-shot the Pirates 37-29 as Stalock improved his record on the year to 17-16-3 and Enroth dropped to 13-12-1.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the game were all from Worcester: 1. Nick Schaus (two assists), 2. Wingels (game-winning-goal and assist) and 3. Jody Pederson (two assists).

The Pirates are back in action at the Civic Center on Friday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. when Worcester comes to Portland for game seven of the fifth annual UNUM Challenge, and the third of four meetings in eight days between the two clubs. Worcester currently holds the season edge, owning a 4-2 record against Portland. Fans are encouraged to visit the Portland Pirates website and enter for a chance to be chosen as the UNUM Challenge Fan of the Game. In partnership with the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education, UNUM will recognize six teachers and four school administrators who have made a difference in the lives of students in our public schools and who represent excellence in the educational profession. The 10 people to be honored at this game were nominated and selected through UNUM's Fifth Annual Maine Educators' Hall of Fame, supported by the Portland Pirates. Tickets for the game, as well as each of the remaining Pirates home games, are on sale now by calling 207-775-3458, visiting the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office or on-line at ticketmaster.com.



American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2011


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