Saturday, February 17, 2007
UP NEXT
WHO: Portland Pirates vs. Worcester Sharks
WHEN: 4:05 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center
PHILADELPHIA - Numbers have defined the Portland Pirates' longest trip this season.
A 2-1 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum Friday night denied the Pirates their 500th victory in franchise history, and wrapped up a five-game, 11-day journey through the Eastern Conference.
The trip yielded the Pirates a 3-1-0-1 mark in which they earned at least a point in the four games that followed a loss at Hershey on Feb. 7.
"Eleven days (caught) up with us," Pirates Coach Kevin Dineen said. "I was really happy with the way that we finished. Our last 25 minutes of hockey was pretty good."
The trip covered some 1,700 miles on the bus.
The Pirates have a rare Saturday off and will be home Sunday against the Worcester Sharks. The Pirates trail the fourth-place Sharks by two points for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
"We've got to get points," Dineen said. "That's where we're at right now after the stretch we went through in late December and January. In saying that, those are points that we should have had (Friday) based on our play, and when you don't go home with them, it's disappointing."
Joe Motzko, who had four goals and three assists during the trip, scored the Pirates' goal.
Sebastien Caron, who started 4 of 5 games on the trip, made 21 saves for the Pirates.
Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead on a second-period goal by Niko Dimitrakos, a former UMaine player.
At 3:04 of the third period, Motzko tied the game, putting a slot shot past goalie Scott Munroe just 16 seconds into a power play with Dimitrakos off for slashing.
During the shootout, Motzko replied for the Pirates after Philadelphia's Ryan Potulny had tallied.
Darren Reid beat Caron with a pretty backhander to again put the Pirates behind, but then Geoff Peters snapped a shot past Munroe.
Potulny again scored, and Munroe then ended the game, stopping Motzko's second bid.
"That's two shootout losses in a row for us," Dineen said. "It's been an issue for us, so it's something that we have to address."
BRUINS 3 FALCONS 2: Julian Talbot scored his first professional goal and Jordan Sigalet stopped 26 shots as Providence extended its winning streak to four games by defeating Springfield at home.
Talbot, a 21-year-old center, signed a professional tryout contract on Thursday.
Providence (30-20-1-3) was leading 2-1 in the second period when he buried the rebound of a Ben Walter shot at 11:06.
Questions/Comments
North of the Border
Recently Seen
Taste of Maine Food Fest
Mothers Day Baseball in Buxton
Trout and Heads
'What Happens in Vegas'
The Baker's Bench
Reverb
Where's the beach?
Casting Call
Reader comments
There are not yet any comments. Post your comment and it will appear here.
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.