Saturday, March 17, 2007
LOWELL, Mass. - As the Portland Pirates embark on what will be a critical stretch of road games -- three in three nights, nine in 10 starts -- each one takes on a distinct playoff feel.
Friday night, the Pirates took a solid first step by beating fellow playoff contenders, the Lowell Devils, 4-3 in a shootout before an announced Tsongas Arena crowd of 1,493.
The actual turnout was much lower, dampened by the storm that blew through New England.
Brian Salcido, Joe Motzko and Bjorn Melin scored in the shootout, which the Pirates won 3-1 -- their first road shootout win since Oct. 14 at Worcester.
"They feel like playoff games," said Pirates center Mark Hartigan, whose third-period goal tied the score at 3-3.
"It was playoff intensity. We're excited. Our nerves were going out there. Winning a shootout, finally, is a huge extra point for us."
The Pirates moved within six points of fourth-place Lowell for the Atlantic Division's final playoff spot. The Pirates have four more games remaining with Lowell.
Portland scored first.
Geoff Peters swiped the puck behind the Lowell net, then wrapped it in front, stuffing it between the pads of Frank Doyle, the former UMaine standout, at 3:26 of the first period.
But Lowell replied with goals 56 seconds apart by Mike Pandolfo and Ryan Murphy to take a 2-1 lead at the 5:50 mark.
The Pirates tied the game again when at 4:47 of the second, Matt Keith scored a power-play goal (his 11th) by cashing in a cross-ice feed from Melin.
Lowell regained the lead 3-2 at 9:49 when Tomas Harant's slap shot from the blue line went off Chris Minard and past Portland goaltender Sebastien Caron.
But at 4:25 of the third period, while Portland enjoyed a two-man advantage, Hartigan blasted in his 26th goal of the year, his seventh since joining the Pirates on Jan. 25.
"We know Hartigan's got the big shot," said Pirates Coach Kevin Dineen, "so we took advantage of it there.
"I was happy with the way we executed on that play."
Caron (27 saves) held on from there, making several key saves, including a pair on Nicklas Bergfors in overtime.
"We didn't want to give up another goal," said Caron.
"So we played the way we should play. Stay patient, and we got a big win out of it."
NOTES: The Pirates announced the selection of retired defenseman Todd Nelson as the 10th member of the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame.
Nelson, who along with his brother, Jeff, was a cornerstone of the first Pirates' club, which, back in 1994, won the Calder Cup.
"I'm truly honored to be a part of the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame," said Nelson, now an assistant coach with the AHL's Chicago Wolves, in a statement. "For the few years I was in Portland, especially in 1994, my first championship as a player, it was great to be associated with the players and coaches that were a part of that team.
"I can't say enough about my time in Portland."
Nelson's induction will take place on April 1, when the Pirates play host to the Springfield Falcons.
THE AHL game between the Manchester Monarchs and the Springfield Falcons in Springfield, Mass., was postponed because of a snowstorm.
The game was rescheduled for 4:05 p.m. March 25.
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