Sunday, February 11, 2007
UP NEXT
WHO: Portland Pirates at Norfolk Admirals
WHEN: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Scope Arena, Norfolk, Va.
NORFOLK, Va. - Victory away from home is becoming a bit of a habit for the Portland Pirates, who created a two-game road winning streak Saturday with a 4-2 win over the Norfolk Admirals at Scope Arena.
The Pirates ended an 11-game road losing streak on Friday with a 2-1 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
On Saturday, Simon Ferguson swept in the winning goal off a pass from Geoff Peters from the bottom of the right circle with 3 minutes to play. Peters corralled the puck after tipping Eric Weinrich's shot from the point out of the air and off the pads of goaltender Corey Crawford.
"I wouldn't say I saw (Ferguson) but I knew there were guys over that way," Peters said with a grin. "Fergie usually fans on those but he got it tonight."
A hooking penalty to Portland's Drew Miller with 1:30 left in regulation brought late drama. The Admirals pulled Crawford for a six-on-four advantage and scurried around the Pirates' zone before Ryan Carter got an empty-net goal with 6 seconds left.
It was the second straight home loss for the Admirals, but only their third loss at home in regulation this season. Norfolk entered the game atop the AHL with 77 points.
A scrum late in the first period led to the game's first goal.
Petteri Wirtanen stuck out a leg in front of the Pirates' bench as he attempted to stop Norfolk defenseman Jerramie Domish, who went flying after the knee-on-knee collision.
The ensuing Norfolk power play carried over into the second period and the Admirals struck 14 seconds in. Defenseman Danny Richmond attempted to pass from the top of the right circle to the far post. It instead caromed into the net off Kent Huskins' skate.
Portland tied it midway through the game, also on a power play. Huskins passed from the high slot to Joe Motzko, who set up Tim Brent on the far side of the crease.
Norfolk (36-12-4-1) went up 2-1 three minutes before the second intermission, once again on a power play. Richmond passed across the top of the circles to Dustin Byfuglien on the left side. Byfuglien uncorked a snap shot that flew by screened goaltender Mike Wall.
Motzko made the score 2-2 just 14 seconds into the third period when he rushed down the left wing and used a defender as a screen to beat Crawford from the circle.
"This was a must-win for us," said Peters. "The only way we're going to get this train rolling is to get wins back to back, even if we're playing some of the best teams in the league on the road."
NOTES: Former Pirate Bruno St. Jacques, now with Norfolk, missed the game with various lower-body bumps and bruises.
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