With title wrapped up, Pirates reach 50 wins

By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

E-mail this story to a friend

Staff photo by Jill Brady Ryan Shannon, top, of the Pirates flips a shot on goal as Harlan Pratt of the Sound Tigers tries to tip it away in the second period Sunday at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Shannon scored in the first period of Portland's 5-2 victory. Shane O'Brien, right, of the Pirates tangles with Bridgeport's Masi Marjamaki as the puck pops free. Portland got its 50th win Sunday, beating the Sound Tigers, 5-2.

UP NEXT WHO: Pirates at Lowell Lock Monsters WHEN: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday To top of story

Two days after clinching their first AHL Atlantic Division title, the Portland Pirates got back to business Sunday and reached another milestone at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

The Pirates beat Bridgeport 5-2 for the fourth time this season, becoming the first team in the 13-year history of the franchise to win 50 games in a season.

The lopsided victory came less then 24 hours after Lowell beat the Pirates, 2-1.

"I think there was a little bit of a letdown after clinching the division, and we came out kind of slow (Saturday night)," said Dustin Penner, who scored his team-high 38th goal less two minutes into Sunday's game. "Part of the job is being professional every day and bringing the same wortk ethic that got you here."

The Pirates (50-19-5-3) pulled even with idle Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the Eastern Conference lead and home-ice advantage for the first three rounds of the Calder Cup playoffs. Both teams have 108 points, and each has three regular-season games to play.

Portland got off to a fast start Sunday to complete a sweep of its four-game season series against the Sound Tigers.

"We just kept on them the whole game and didn't give them any room to breathe," Penner said. "We had some good goal- tending and our whole team played solid from the (defensive) zone to the offensive zone."

Goalie Nathan Marsters, who has been playing a backup role to Jani Kurme the past two months, made 26 saves to record his seventh consecutive win.

"You've got to respect what he has done for us," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said. "He plays real hard for us and he really makes us feel comfortable with the setup we have going into the playoffs."

Penner opened the scoring 1:28 into the game when he deflected defenseman Ladislav Smid's rising shot from the left point past goalie Wade Dubielewicz on the first shot of the game.

At 5:10, Ryan Shannon slid in a rebound for his 25th goal at 5:10, and Igor Pohanka made it 3-0 at 16:48 when he put in a rebound for his first of two goals.

With 20 seconds left in the period, Joe Tallari lifted a left-handed shot from the left hash mark off the right post to score his second goal in as many games for Bridgeport.

Pohanka struck again 3:14 into the second when he converted Simon Ferguson's centering pass from behind the right side of the goal into his 11th goal on a quick shot from the slot.

Mark Lee drew Bridgeport within 4-2 with 12:04 left in the game, redirecting Matt Koalski's pass into the right side for his first AHL goal.

Defenseman Maxim Kondratiev sent the puck into an empty net from inside the faceoff circle with 1 second left for his second goal.

NOTES: Bridgeport needs a win or a Binghamton loss to nail down the fourth and final East Division playoff spot. . . . Defenseman Bruno St. Jacques, who missed Saturday night's game after being hit in the right foot by a puck at Hartford Friday night, was back in the Portland lineup. . . . Portland center Tim Brent, who played the last two games after missing 39 because of a shoulder injury, was scratched because of sore ribs.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 725-8795 or at:

To top of page