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Monday, December 19, 2005
Pirates win fourth straight
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Sometimes a hockey team needs a little motivation. A fight. A big hit. A pretty goal. During Portland's 4-1 victory against Albany on Sunday before 3,164 fans at the Cumberland County Civic Center, it was a penalty kill. After holding Albany scoreless while two men down for 1 minute, 24 seconds in the second period, the Pirates came to life and cruised to their second victory in two days against the River Rats. "After that kill was done, we all just picked it up," said Tim Brent, who scored to make it 2-0 less than four minutes after the Pirates killed off two penalties. "Little things give you life, anything like that. When you're tired physically, those things build adrenalin and get you back up." It was the fourth consecutive victory for Portland, which moved into sole possession of first place in the AHL Atlantic Division. "As a professional, you have to have pride in what you do, and we knew (Albany was) going to come back and play a lot harder because we scored nine goals on them (in a 9-5 win Saturday)," Brent said. "It just shows again the character on this team." The Pirates took a 1-0 lead 14:50 into the game when Igor Pohanka dived to poke the puck into an open net after goalie Frank Doyle stepped up to block Ryan Shannon's close-in shot from the left side. Doyle, who played at the University of Maine for two seasons, made the initial save but the puck trickled through the crease behind him, and Pohanka put it in for his fifth goal of the season. Earlier, an apparent goal by Portland's Aaron Gavey was disallowed after he collided with Doyle in the crease. Instead, Gavey received a two-minute penalty for goalkeeper interference. Brent made the score 2-0 12:28 into the second period by winning a draw in the left circle and sending the puck into the net. It was his 12th goal, tying him with Dustin Penner for the team lead. During the first minute of the third period, Albany's Ilka Pikkarainen put in a shot from the middle of the left circle for a power-play goal, his team-high eighth. At 4:43, Corey Perry swept the puck into the left side for a power-play goal. Since joining the Pirates a month ago, he has registered a point in every game he's played. Perry has 10 goals and 13 assists in 12 games. With 2:15 left, Pierre Parenteau lifted the puck into the left side for his third goal since returning to the Portland lineup six games ago. NOTES: Defenseman Nathan Saunders returned to the Portland lineup after missing 13 games because of a shoulder injury. Defenseman Bruno St. Jacques was scratched after suffering a head injury during the second period of Saturday night's game. . . . The New Jersey Devils sent right wing Alexander Suglabov and left wing Barry Tallackson to the River Rats Sunday. . . . Portland Coach Kevin Dineen will hold his first "Chalk Talk" of the season at 5:15 p.m. Friday in the Captain's Club before the Pirates' game against Manchester. Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 725-8795 or at:
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