The great escape

By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Staff photo by Derek Davis Portland goalie Jani Hurme keeps his focus on the puck Tuesday night while making a first-period save at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The Pirates ralled from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 victory against Hershey.
	GAME 6 WHO: Pirates vs. Hershey Bears WHEN: 7:05 p.m. today WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center SERIES: Bears lead, 3-2 To top of story

The Portland Pirates came back from the brink of elimination in a must-win game Tuesday night.

The Pirates scored all of their goals during a six-minute span of the third period to pull out a 3-2 victory against the Hershey Bears before 3,401 fans at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Portland will play the Bears, who hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, in another must-win game tonight.

"We really do believe," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said. "But that was no miracle there. We believe that we can get it done. We did it earlier in the series when we were down two goals with five minutes to go. This team has heart."

Tim Brent completed the rally by scoring his first goal since New Year's Eve with more than 11 minutes left.

"It's been a long time," said Brent, sidelined much of the last four months of the regular season after right shoulder surgery.

"It's tough to battle back after an injury and have the same confidence you did when you were playing before. (But) it's a matter of our team having different guys step up every night."

Brent scored the winning goal from just outside the crease. Pierre Parenteau dumped the puck over the net during a rush. Curtis Glencross beat the defense when the puck stopped against the boards and sent it out front to Brent.

The Bears, bidding to make their first appearance in a Calder Cup finals since 1997, scored both of their goals in the second period to take a 2-0 lead.

Tomas Fleischmann, who spent last season with Portland when the Pirates were affiliated with the Washington Capitals, opened the scoring unassisted at 3:20.

After taking the puck from a defender in the right circle, he avoided a check, moved across the slot and scored on a left-handed shot from just below the hashmarks. It came 14 seconds after the Pirates killed off Hershey's fifth power play of the game.

Less than three minutes later, rookie defenseman Mike Green put in a low shot from the top of the slot for his first playoff goal.

"They scored goals at key times," Dineen said. "Right after a penalty kill they scored. Right after a power play they scored a goal. That's a tough thing to come back from. It's a little bit demoralizing."

But the Pirates, who held a 21-16 edge in shots through two periods, kept pressing.

Defenseman Bruno St. Jacques scored his third playoff goal on the first shot of the third period. He redirected Parenteau's pass from behind the right side of the goal inside the near post to end goalie Frederic Cassivi's shutout string at 102 minutes, 26 seconds.

At 7:35, Ryan Shannon tied it when he put in a shot from the middle of the left circle for his 10th playoff goal during a power play.

During the third period, the Pirates held a 15-8 edge in shots.

"We just wanted to keep getting pucks to (Cassivi), and there was no disbelief in our dressing room after the second period," Brent said.

"We believe in our system, and we believe in everything we've been doing all year."

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