Special teams spur Pirates to victory, and 3-2 series lead Back in command

By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette Pierre Parenteau, center, starts the celebration for the Pirates after Zenon Konopka, right, scored a first-period goal Thursday night.
	Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette Ladislav Smid, 17, of the Portland Pirates attempts to knock a rolling puck away from in front of the net.Portland won 4-1 and will attempt to wrap up the series in Game 6 on Sunday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
	GAME 6 WHO: Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Portland Pirates WHEN: 7:05 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center SERIES: Pirates lead, 3-2 To top of story

Portland rode improved special-team play to a 4-1 victory against Hartford in an AHL playoff game Thursday night.

Zenon Konopka had two goals and an assist as the Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series before a crowd of 3,667 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Portland can move into the Calder Cup semifinals with a victory Sunday night in Game 6 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

After allowing the Wolf Pack to score on 8 of 33 power plays in the first four games, the Pirates killed off all five Hartford power plays and scored two power-play goals of their own.

"You've got to address the issues that have been your ills, and certainly penalty killing has hurt us," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said.

"It was preparation," said Ryan Shannon, who put the Pirates in front to stay with a power-play goal in the second period. "That was the difference in the games we lost. We took time to look at video and change our approach."

The score was 1-1 after the first period.

Portland opened the scoring at 8:14 when Konopka converted Pierre Parenteau's feed.

The forechecking of Curtis Glencross, who stuck around after his shift was through, set up the chance, which extended Konopka's points streak to a league-best 23 games dating to March 18.

Nigel Dawes tied it at 15:11 by converting Dwight Helminen's pass.

The Pirates regained the lead at 9:23 of the second when Shannon scored a power-play goal.

With 1:45 left in the second, Konopka turned a turnover deep inside the Hartford zone into a power-play goal. While on the forecheck, defenseman Ladislav Smid forced a defender to cough up the puck, leaving goalie Chris Holt surrounded by three Pirates.

Less than three minutes into the third period, Geoff Peters scored his fourth playoff goal on a breakaway, set up by a lead pass from Konopka.

Jani Hurme made 27 saves for Portland.

NOTES: After missing the last five periods of the playoffs because of injury, defenseman Aaron Rome returned to the Portland lineup. . . . With 1:16 left, Hartford left wing Chad Wiseman received a third-man-in penalty after joining a fight between Peters and Hartford defenseman Thomas Pock. . . . After sitting out one game, defenseman Marc Staal was back in the Hartford lineup.

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

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