Senators Shut Out Pirates, Win Series 4-2

Home cooking went sour again for the Pirates, as their season ended with a thud, losing 3-0 to the Binghamton Senators in a series-ending game 6. The Pirates failed to win a game at home in the series, and it cost them as a promising season came to a crashing halt. Jim O'Brien scored
25 seconds in, Zack Smith scored another goal in the series and Kaspars Daugavins scored an empty-netter for the Senators, who now head to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The excitement of the Pirates return to Portland to fight another day didn't last long in game 6, as Jim O'Brien scored on a broken play just 25 seconds into the game. Jared Cowen and Kaspars Daugavins picked up assists as the Pirates were in a very early hole in a must-win game. The Pirates would hold an 11-6 shot advantage after one period, but Senators goalie Robin Lehner was in tip-top shape in this one.

The Pirates had to weather an early storm in the second period, as Jeff Dimmen took a penalty less than three minutes in. Portland goalie Jhonas Enroth had to make a handful of tough saves on the penalty kill as the Senators looked to extend their slim lead. Enroth stood strong, however, and the Pirates were still standing. Portland looked to get the equalizer eight minutes in, but the goal was waved off as Daugavins was called for a hooking penalty. In the post-game press conference, Pirates coach Kevin Dineen said it was the right call, as the Senators touched the puck before Portland put in in the net. It was deflating for a team struggling to solve a hot goalie. What was more deflating was when the Pirates went on a 5-on-3 40 seconds later, and couldn't capitalize on the advantage. It may have been a turning point in the game, as the Pirates best chance to put one past Lehner was not good enough.

The Senators would go on the power play midway through the period, as Igor Gongalsky was called for delay of game for knocking the net out of place. Zack Smith took advantage of the power play halfway through, lighting the lamp as he beat Enroth up high on a pass from Ryan Keller. Mike Hoffman also picked up an assist on the goal. After two periods it was Binghamton with a 2-0 lead, and the Pirates with their backs against the wall.

The Pirates couldn't seem to put together a sustained attack in the game, with an advantage in shots on goal misleading. Lehner was the best player on the ice in game 6, and maybe for the whole series, finishing with 36 saves and causing the Pirates to wonder what could have been.

The players were emotional after the game, wondering where a season where everything was going right went wrong. Both Dineen and the players were frustrated that they couldn't take advantage of home-ice advantage in the series. A team that was near impossible to beat at home in the regular season, and 3-0 in the first round, was 0-fer for this series, and it all boiled over in the deciding game 6, when they failed to even score.

While things look bad right now, in time the team will have a chance to look back at this season and see all the positives. For Dineen, it might be his last season in Portland, as his name will surely be near the tops of many NHL team's lists for open head coaching positions.

POST GAME AUDIO
Coach Kevin Dineen

Pirates Luke Adam

Pirates Derek Whitmore

Live from Bruins-Flyers game 4

Matty is live at the TD Garden tonight as the Bruins look to finish off a sweep of the Flyers. You can interact with him on Twitter during the game below and stay tuned for post-game. Tonight's coverage is brought you by the good folks at Mister Sparky, America's On-Time Electrician.

Bruins go up 3-0 in series with a big win at home

It took less than one minute and three seconds for the Bruins to take a two-goal lead on the Flyers Wednesday night in their Game 3 Stanley Cup Playoff match-up, but it took 58 minutes and 57 seconds for the Bruins to go up 3-0 in the series with a 5-1 win.

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Zdeno Chara and David Krejci scored 33 seconds apart in the first 63 seconds to literally start the game for the Bruins, and the Flyers, who had said they were treating this game 3 like it was a game 7, treated it like it was a game 7. Of the exhibition season.

Tim Thomas was his usual, Vezina-quality self, making 37 saves against the hapless Flyers, who played once again without defenseman Chris Pronger and used Jeff Carter on a limited basis.

Daniel Paille and Nathan Horton each scored in the second period, which chased Rhode Island native Brian Boucher from the game. Sergei Bobrovsky, with the help of some quick legs and kind goal-posts, managed to keep the Bruins mostly in check the rest of the way. Late in the 3rd period, the Bruins got a 5 on 3 power play and FINALLY scored with the 2-man advantage as Chara knocked home another goal. The Flyers are going back to the future, hoping they can do the impossible in back-to-back seasons, coming back from 3-0 down to win in the second round of the playoffs.

POST GAME AUDIO

Brad Marchand

Tim Thomas

Flyers Coach Laviolette

Bruins Coach Julien

Zdeno Chara

Our Bruins coverage for Game 3 is brought to you by the Drum Shop in Portland. Check them out online at DrumsforLess.com or on Twitter @TheDrumShopME

Live from the TD Garden tonight!

Jeff hit the road tonight and will be on the scene as the Boston Bruins look to take Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Playoff series against Philadelphia tonight. Follow him on Twitter to interact during the game and stay tuned after the game for post-game audio and photos.

This Bruins playoff coverage is brought to you by The Drum Shop! Check them out at DrumsForLess.com or follow them on Twitter.

Pirates get win, head back home for game 6

Mancari was key in getting series back home (Photo Jeff Schools/MESN)

Mark Mancari scored twice and added two assists to lead the Portland Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Binghamton Senators in Game 5 of the Atlantic Division Finals played tonight in front of 3,152 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
           
The victory forced a sixth game in the best of seven series, which will be played Friday at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The Senators lead the series 3-2.
           
Colin Stuart added a goal and an assist for the Pirates while single goals went to Luke Adam, Mark Parrish and Mark Voakes.
           
Jim O’Brien and Bobby Butler scored for the Senators.
           
The Pirates jumped out to a quick start in this one scoring four times in the opening period to build a 4-0 lead after one. Stuart and Adam netted power-play goals in the first seven minutes, Mancari connected shorthanded and Parrish found the back of the net even strength to get the Pirates rolling and chase Binghamton starter Robin Lehner after the fourth goal, replaced by Barry Brust with five and a half minutes left in the first. Voakes scored early in the second to increase the Pirates lead to 5-0 before O’Brien got the home side on the board. Mancari, with his second of the game, and Butler traded goals in the second half of the second to send the game into the third with the Pirates ahead 6-2. There was no scoring in the third.
           
The Pirates out shot the Senators 41-37 in the game as Jhonas Enroth posted the victory.
           
The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the game were all from the Pirates. Mancari was the first, Stuart the second and Enroth the third.

The series returns to Portland for Game 6 on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Fans in attendance will receive pom poms courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Tickets for the game are on sale at the Civic Center Box Office, by calling 207-775-3458 or on line at portlandpirates.com. Advance tickets are $18 for Adult Premium Main Deck, $17 for Adult Main Deck and $14 Adult Quarter Deck. Advance tickets for Youth/Senior/Student in the Premium Main Deck are $13 and $12 in the Main Deck or Quarter Deck. There is a $2 increase on all ticket prices when purchased the day of the game.

The game can be seen live on TWCTV Plus-Channel 1000 or when Boston Red Sox Overflow games are not occurring it will also be seen on TWCTV Channel 9, 21 or 22 (depending on location). The game can also be heard live on 95.5 News Talk WLOB and on line at portlandpirates.com beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

If necessary, Game 7 will take place at the Civic Center Saturday at 7 p.m. with fans in attendance receiving pom poms courtesy of Time Warner Cable.
-PORTLAND PIRATES-

Pirates fall to Binghamton; now facing elimination

Karpars Daugavins and Ryan Potulny each scored a pair of goals to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 6-1 win over the Portland Pirates in Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Final series played tonight in front of 3,180 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Binghamton leads the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Mike Hoffman and Ryan Keller rounded out the Senators goal scoring while Corey Locke registered three assists.

Luke Adam scored the lone Pirates goal.

The Senators used three first-period power plays to build a 3-1 lead after one. Hoffman opened the scoring with the man advantage just 2:54 into the game. Adam tied it for the Pirates only to see Daugavins connect 10 second later to restore the Senators one-goal lead. Keller added another power-play goal in the later stages of the first to complete the period scoring. Daugavins, with his second of the game, and Potulny accounted for all of the offence in the second to carry the home side into the third with a 5-1 lead. Potulny registered his second of the game to complete the scoring in the third and give the Senators a 6-1 victory.

The Senators out shot the Pirates 39-23 as David Leggio started and took the loss. Leggio surrendered four goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Jhonas Enroth early in the second and the Pirates trailing 4-1.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the game were all from the Senators. Daugavins was the first, Keller the second and Potulny the third.

The series remains in Binghamton for Game 5 tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The game can be seen live on TWCTV Plus-Channel 1000 or when Boston Red Sox Overflow games are not occurring it will also be seen on TWCTV Channel 9, 21 or 22 (depending on location). The game can also be heard live on 95.5 News Talk WLOB and on line at portlandpirates.com beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

Game 6 of the series, if necessary, will be played Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Cente

Pirates get lat goal from Conboy for 3-2 win, Binghamton with 2-1 series lead

Tim Conboy scored with 12.5 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Portland Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Binghamton Senators in Game 3 of their Atlantic Division Finals series played tonight in front of 4,637 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
           
Binghamton now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1.
           
Derek Whitmore added a goal and an assist to the Pirates attack while Brian O’Hanley netted the other.
           
Ryan Keller and Kaspars Daugavins scored for the Senators, who saw a five-game playoff winning streak come to an end.

O’Hanley struck for the only goal of the first period five-and-a-half minutes into the game to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead after one for the third straight game in the series. Binghamton tied it early in the second as Keller found the back of the net followed by a power-play goal by Daugavins to give the Senators a 2-1 advantage heading into the third. Whitmore tied the game with just over five minutes remaining in regulation to set the stage for Conboy’s heroics.
The Senators out shot the Pirates 34-33 in the game as David Leggio posted the victory.
           
The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the game were 1. Whitmore, 2. Conboy and 3. Keller.

The series remains in Binghamton for the next two games, Game 4 on Monday and Game 5 on Tuesday. Both games are 7:05 face-offs and both can be seen live on TWCTV Plus-Channel 1000 or when Boston Red Sox Overflow games are not occurring they will also be seen on TWCTV Channel 9, 21 or 22 (depending on location). Both games can also be heard live on 95.5 News Talk WLOB and on line at portlandpirates.com beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

Game 6 of the series, if necessary, will be played Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Fans in attendance will receive pom poms courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Tickets for the game are on sale at the Civic Center Box Office, by calling 207-775-3458 or on line at portlandpirates.com. Advance tickets are $18 for Adult Premium Main Deck, $17 for Adult Main Deck and $14 Adult Quarter Deck. Advance tickets for Youth/Senior/Student in the Premium Main Deck are $13 and $12 in the Main Deck or Quarter Deck. There is a $2 increase on all ticket prices when purchased the day of the game.
-PORTLAND PIRATES-