Sunday, January 28, 2007
UP NEXT
WHO: Portland Pirates at Providence Bruins
WHEN: 7:05 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Dunkin' Donuts Center
LOWELL, Mass. - The Portland Pirates managed to pick up one point with a 3-2 overtime loss to Lowell on Saturday night before 2,943 at Tsongas Arena.
And that was a step up.
The Pirates, who had gone five games without earning a point all regulation losses managed to get one point as they enter the AHL All-Star break.
Barry Tallackson's goal with 42 seconds remaining in overtime gave Lowell the victory.
In the process, it spoiled an encouraging effort by the Pirates, who clawed back from two goals down.
"The way things have been going," said Geoff Peters, who scored both Portland goals, "it's a good sign for this hockey team. Especially coming back from two down. We've had leads and faltered. It's just another step in the right direction for us."
The Pirates are in need of an about-face with just one win in their last nine starts.
"We're taking baby steps right now," said a harried Portland Coach Kevin Dineen.
"We're just absolutely scratching and clawing for everything we can get."
Portland spotted the Devils a two-goal lead, then struck back with two by Peters.
The first came at 19:06 of the second period when he cashed in a feed from Eric Weinrich, playing in his second game since resigning as Pirates' assistant coach .
For Weinrich, the assist was his first AHL point since 1990, although he did rack up 388 in the NHL in between.
Weinrich notched his second assist of the night with Portland on a power play. He launched a shot from the blue line that rattled off Peters' stick and past Lowell goalie Frank Doyle, a former UMaine player.
But that was as good as it would get for the Pirates.
Tallackson picked off an errant clearing pass and slapped it past Portland goalie Dov Grumet-Morris for the winner.
"One thing you can't say," said Peters, "is that we don't work hard. (But) I think everybody in here needs a rest. If not physically, then mentally."
NOTES: When Weinrich "unretired" over the weekend to shore up the Pirates' defense, he became the AHL's oldest active player, taking that distinction away from Manitoba's Mike Keane, who is "only" 38. Weinrich is also the first "40-something" to play for the Pirates since another former assistant, Paul Gardner, interrupted his 11-year retirement back in 1996 to suit up for one game. Š
The Pirates got a boost by the arrivals of Joe Motzko and Shane Endicott, who were acquired in separate deals on Friday. "I'm looking forward to this," said Endicott, who came from Milwaukee. "It's an opportunity, and I'm going to take advantage of it." ...
When Zenon Konopka was traded from the Pirates to Columbus on Friday, it was assumed that he would be joining the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Instead, Konopka, among the most popular Pirates in club history, earned instant promotion to the NHL. He was called up when Jackets winger Nikolai Zherdev took ill. Konopka saw very limited action, playing five shifts.
Questions/Comments
North of the Border
Recently Seen
Pirates PlayOff Hockey Game - May 6
Propel event
Reiche Library Closure Protest
'What Happens in Vegas'
Granny's Burritos
The Stream Reggae Band
Where's the beach?
Casting Call
Reader comments
Sort by: Oldest first | Newest First
And I too agree with MP. He was certainly popular, but there is a long line of other popular players throughout the years that have donned the Portland sweater.report abuse
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.