Raymond Goal Lifts Senators Past Pirates 5-3

It was the call the wasn't made that was the difference, as the Binghamton Senatators defeated the Portland Pirates in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Bob Raymond scored the winning goal in transition late in the third period, after a linesman determined he was not offsides. Kaspars Daugavins scored his second goal into an empty

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net with just seconds left as the Senators scored 5 of the last 6 goals of the game to take a 2-0 series lead.

For the second game in a row it was the Pirates taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Derek Whitmore scored 13 minutes in to give the Pirates the early lead. Mark Voakes and Maxime Legault assisted on the goal, and the Pirates were determined to take control of the game early after last night's let dwown. Jhonas Enroth stopped all 10 shots he saw in the period, as he got the start over Dave Leggio after getting sent down from Buffalo when the Sabres were knocked out of the NHL playoffs.

The Pirates extended the lead just over a minute into the second period, as Mark Snapped took a pass from Luke Adam and fired it past Binghamton goalie Robin Lehner. The Pirates kept up the offensive pressure as they had a 5-0 shot advantage through the first 7 minutes of the period.

The Pirates went on the power play 7:32 into the period, hoping to improve on a weak part of their game. They found a way to make a ineffective power play even more so, as Daugavins scored a shorthanded goal midway through the man advantage, cutting the Pirate lead in half. The Senators took the momentum and ran with it, just as they did in Game 1, as they tied it 3 minutes later. Zack Smith took a feed from Corey Locke and fired it past Enroth for the equalizer. It was Smith's second goal in as many games, as he keeps finding ways to put daggers through the hearts of Pirates fans.

After scoring with a man down and even strength, the Senators finished the scoring trifecta as Bobby Butler scored on the power play with under 4 minutes to go in the second period. After such a great start to the game and the period, the Pirates found themselves down a goal heading into the locker rooms. Facing them was a 2-0 series deficit and 3 games away from home to try and extend their season.

The line of Mancari, Adam, and Matt Ellis had a strong start to the third period, as the Pirates were looking to go down swinging in the final 20 minutes. Mancari would smack the Senators right in the mouth midway through the period, taking a shot from between the circles that zoomed past Lehner into the back of the net. The Pirates had some solid chances to take back the lead, as Adam failed to light the lamp on a breakaway with 7 minutes to go, and they couldn't take advantage of Lehner without a stick a couple minutes later.

Raymond did take advantage of a linesman's controversial non-call, as he put the game-winner past Enroth with 4 minutes to go. Pirates coach Kevin Dineen and Mancari both were livid after the game, feeling that the linesman took the game out of their hands. Daugavins added an empty-netter with 3.1 seconds left much to the chagrin of the Civic Center crowd.

It is now a tall task for the Pirates, as they must win 2 out of 3 games on the road to bring the series back to Portland.

Zack Smith was named the #3 Star of the Game after scoring the game-tying goal in the second period.

Mancari was named the #2 Star after scoring twice for the Pirates and playing what he said was a much better game than last night.

Raymond was named the #1 Star after scoring the game-winning goal late in the third period. He won't be Portland Pubic Enemy #1, as that honor goes to the most hated linesman in the Dineen household.

The teams get a day off as the series shifts to Binghamton for Game 3 on Saturday

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Coach Kevin Dineen	Pirates Mark Mancari
Pirates Matt Ellis	Pirates Jhonas Enroth

Senators Outlast Pirates, Take Game 1, 3-2

The Portland Pirates got off to a hot start in Game 1 of the series against the Binghamton Senators, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The next 40 minutes belonged to the Senators, however, as they outskated, outshot, and outlasted the Pirates, winning 3-2. Zack Smith and the game-winning goal and added an assist to lead Binghamton.

The Pirates camped out in the Binghamton zone for much of the first 4 minutes of the game, capped off by Maxime Legault's goal from the right side of the net, past Senators goalie Robin

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Lehner. The play started with a pass from Matt Ellis on the left side to mark Voakes out in front, who took a shot that Legault put back. Legault would take a hooking penalty 8 minutes in that the Pirates killed off, but it seemed to finally give Binghamton some momentum. The Pirates would go on the power play 12 minutes in, but could only muster 2 shots, while giving Binghamton 2 short-handed chances. At the horn, it was 1-0 Portland, but momentum seemed to be swinging away from the Pirates.

The Pirates seemed to come out of the locker room with momentum, and 2 minutes in Colin Stuart and Mark Parrish had a solid chance in front of the net that Lehner denied. Portland was the much more physical team, trying to slow down Binghamton's fast-paced style. Mark Mancari had a breakaway chance 4:30 in, but his first attempt was stuffed, and he couldn't corral the rebound for another try.

That big save by Lehner energized the Senators, who finally lit the lamp 2 minutes later. Ryan Keller got a shot past Dave Leggio to even the score at 1-1. Ryan Potulny and Smith assisted on the goal. Binghamton would go on the power play less than a minute later, and would quickly take their first lead of the game. Bobby Butler netted the goal for the Senators, and he was assisted by Andre Benoit and Corey Locke.

The Pirates were lucky to be only a goal down, as Leggio faced many open shots throughout the period, making sprawling saves on many of them. Portland pulled the momentum back towards their side late in the period as Stuart raced down the ice in transition, collecting a lob pass from Corey Fienhage, and wristing it past Lehner from the right circle. The Pirates got a chance to take back the lead a minute later, going on the power play after Locke was called for interference. The sluggish-looking Pirates couldn't get a shot on net and it was 2-2 heading into the second intermission.

The Pirates fired a couple shots from the blue line early in the third period, trying to take back the lead and gain some positive momentum. The idea failed, and the Senators started teeing off on Leggio again. He stopped a wide open shot by Colin Greening 2:45 in, and had to jump on a puck in the crease a couple minutes later to keep the game tied.

The Senators finally got one past Leggio, as Smith ripped a shot in from a tough angle on the right side. Poltulny and Benoit notched assists on the goal. Binghamton kept up the pressure, pelting Leggio with open shot after open shot as the Pirates couldn't keep up with the Senators' puck movement.

Portland's best and last chance to net the equalizer came with 2 minutes to go as Paul Byron found Parrish for a shot in front of Lehner, but the Senators netminder turned the attempt away. The Pirates wouldn't get another good look as Binghamton picked up an important road win in Game 1.

Leggio stopped 40 of 43 shots that came his way, as it could have been a much more crooked number that Binghamton put up in this one.

The Pirates were out shot 34 to 24 in the final 2 periods, as Binghamton seemed to dictate the tempo for much of the game.

Zack Smith was named the #1 Star of the Game after picking up a goal and assist.

Ryan Potulny was named the #2 Star after assisting on 2 goals and getting 3 shots on net.

Maxime Legault was named the #3 Star after scoring the opening goal and showing some aggressive play throughout the game.

Game 2 will be tomorrow night at 7pm at the Cumberland County Civic Center, before the series shifts to Binghamton for games 3, 4, and 5 if necessary.
-WIL KRAMLICH-


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Pirates Head Coach Kevin Dineen

Pirates Colin Stuart

MAINEiacs on the brink, lose to St John. Down 3-0 in series

For the first time in the 2011 President's Cup Playoffs, the Lewiston MAINEiacs will be playing for their lives. On Tuesday night, the Saint John Sea Dogs scored four goals in the second period, picking up a 5-2 win, while building a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

After a scoreless first period, the Sea Dogs got on the board early in the second. While on the power play, Michael Kirkpatrick found Jonathan Huberdeau with a centering pass, which was finished by a tap-in at the side of the crease. Less than two minutes later, Saint John added to the lead, as Steven Anthony took a Lewiston turnover and fed Tomas Jurco, who deked his way to a goal. A little more than three minutes later, the Sea Dogs struck again, as Ryan Tesink finished off a cross-crease pass by Jonathan Huberdeau.

With 8:37 left in the middle frame, the MAINEiacs got their first goal. Kirill Kabanov sent a pass across the ice to Jess Tanguy, before getting it back, and knocking a shot in off of the right post, cutting the Saint John lead to two. However, the Sea Dogs had an answer, as Mike Thomas bounced a slow dribbling puck over the line with under two minutes remaining in the period.

Christophe Lalonde got Lewiston's second goal less than a minute into the third period on a rush with Pierre-Olivier Morin, but that was as close as the home team got, as the Sea Dogs iced their win on Stanislav Galiev's empty net marker.

Mathieu Corbeil-Theriault earned his third win of the series, making 28 saves on 30 shots for Saint John. Nicholas Champion allowed four goals on 22 shots in the defeat for Lewiston, before being replaced by Andrey Makarov, who was perfect on seven attempts.

The MAINEiacs and Sea Dogs will play game four of their series on Wednesday night at 7:00, with the game taking place at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

-LEWISTON MAINEiacs-

Pirates beach the Whale; Binghamton next

Paul Byron scored twice and added an assist to lead the Portland Pirates to a 6-4 win over the Connecticut Whale in Game 6 of their Atlantic Division Semifinal Series played tonight in front of 4,514 at the XL Center.

The won the best-of-seven series 4-2 and advance to the Atlantic Division Final to face either the Manchester Monarchs or the Binghamton Senators. Those two teams were heading into overtime in Game 7 at the time of writing tonight.

Mark Parrish added a goal and two assists in the Pirates win while Mark Mancari supplied a goal and an assist. Corey Tropp rounded out the scoring.

Jeremy Williams, Dale Weise, Carl Hagelin and Chad Kolarik scored for the Whale.

The Whale used the power play for the first two goals of the game as Williams and Weise connected on the man advantage to give Connecticut a 2-0 lead after one. The Pirates jumped out quickly in the second as they scored three times (Byron, Parrish and Mancari) in the opening nine-and-a-half minutes to grab a 3-2 lead. Hagelin tied it just over a minute after the Pirates surged ahead but Biega netted the go-ahead goal in the final three minutes of the second to give Portland a 4-3 lead heading into the third. Byron, with the eventual game winner, and Tropp built the Pirates lead to 6-3 before Kolarki completed the scoring with a last minute power-play goal.
The Whale out shot the Pirates 34-30 in the game as David Leggio posted the victory.
The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were 1. Byron, 2. Parrish and 3. Connecticut defenseman Wade Redden (two assists).

Tickets for the Atlantic Division Finals against the Binghamton Senators will go on sale Monday morning at 10 a.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office,and can be ordered by calling 207-775-3458 or online at portlandpirates.com.

Atlantic Division Final
A1-Portland Pirates vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 27 – Binghamton at Portland, 7:00
Game 2 – Thu., Apr. 28 – Binghamton at Portland, 7:00
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 30 – Portland at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 4 – Mon., May 2 – Portland at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Tue., May 3 – Portland at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 6 – Fri., May 6 – Binghamton at Portland, 7:00
*Game 7 – Sat., May 7 – Binghamton at Portland, 7:00
* if necessary

Game One: Maineiacs fall to Saint John in OT

The Saint John Sea Dogs were down, but not out in game one of the QMJHL Semi-Final series against the Lewiston MAINEiacs. Trailing 4-2 in the third, Saint John came back to tie the score, before Stephen MacAulay scored at the 2:59 mark of overtime, lifting the Sea Dogs to a 5-4 victory in front of 5,762 fans at Harbour Station.

Midway through the first period, the Sea Dogs got out to the lead. Tomas Jurco won a puck battle along the right wing boards, sliding the disk back to Pierre Durepos at the point. Durepos teed up a drive from that spot, rifling a slap shot over Nicholas Champion's right shoulder. A little more than three minutes later, Saint John added to the lead. Kevin Gagne swung the puck behind the goal to Stanislav Galiev, who found Steven Anthony with a quick and crisp pass. Anthony buried his shot into the far side of the net.

Before the first period was able to come to a conclusion, the MAINEiacs got on the board. Stefan Fournier and Matt Bissonnette rushed into the offensive zone on a 2-on-1. Fournier slid a pass across to Bissonnette, who potted his fifth goal of the playoffs.

Lewiston rode the momentum of Bissonnette's tally into the second period, as they quickly evened the score 1:33 in. Pierre-Olivier Morin's initial shot from the left side was stopped by Jacob DeSerres, but the rebound was put home by Jess Tanguy, who scored his second goal in as many games. Less than five minutes later, the MAINEiacs struck again, finding the twine with a power play marker. Michael Chaput centered the puck to Kirill Kabanov, who knocked in a shot, as he crashed the net.

In the third period, the MAINEiacs added to their lead with a shorthanded tally. Lewiston broke 2-on-1 into the offensive zone, and Antoine Houde-Caron kept the puck to himself, scoring high over Jacob DeSerres' glove for a 4-2 lead.

During the media time out, the Sea Dogs made a goaltending change, inserting Mathieu Corbeil-Theriault in place of Jacob DeSerres. The move lit a fire under Saint John, who ultimately tied the score with two goals in a span of 1:14. The first was by Nathan Beaulieu, who finished off a pass from Zack Phillips in the slot. The second was scored by Tomas Jurco, who took Nicholas Champion's clearing attempt, and scored into an empty net, sending the contest into overtime.

In the extra session, Saint John cashed in quickly for the win. Simon Despres dashed down the left side, and sent a pass into the middle for Stephen MacAulay, who netted the winning goal.

Mathieu Corbeil-Theriault picked up the win for the Sea Dogs, stopping all 13 shots he faced in relief of Jacob DeSerres, who allowed four goals on 17 shots. Nicholas Champion suffered the loss for the MAINEiacs, making 26 saves on 31 shots.

The MAINEiacs and Sea Dogs will play game two of their series on Saturday night at 6:00 in Saint John, before heading to Lewiston for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both contests at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee will get started at 7:00.

Pirates Hold On to Beat Whale 5-4, Take a 3-2 Series lead

Parrish scores winner (Photo J Gendron) 

It looked like the Pirates would run away in Game 5, taking a 3-0 lead just 45 seconds into the second period, and literally knocking out Whale goalie Dov Grumet-Morris. However, Grumet-Morris' injury ignited a fire in the rest of the Connecticut team, and they made a game out of it. Mark Parrish scored on the power play early in the third period to break a 4-4 tie, and Dave Leggio made an impossible save to preserve the win for the Pirates. Portland now has a 3-2 series lead, and will look to close out the series in Game 6.

Portland struck first in a fast-paced first period, as Mark Mancari sniped a slap shot from the blue line past Grumet-Morris for a power play goal. It was Mancari's second game back after

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missing the first 3 games while playing with parent club Buffalo. Mark Voakes and Paul Byron assisted on the goal. The Pirates had all the offensive momentum after Connecticut started out with a flurry of shots. Travis Turnbull made it 2-0 Pirates on a goal late in the period, with Corey Tropp and Dennis Persson notching assists.

The start of the second period was a nightmare for the Whale. 18 seconds in Grumet-Morris went down after taking a hard shot off the body. He laid on the ice for a couple minutes until he was able to shake it off. Luke Adam would put a backhand shot past him less than 30 seconds later, and it was clear Dov was not right. Mancari and Persson assisted on Adam's goal. Grumet-Morris would be replaced by Cameron Talbot, and this invigorated the Whale players.

The play got physical in the period, and the Pirates found the worst times to show it. The Whale would get five power play chances, and would score twice. Kris Newbury scored his first goal on the power play 4 1/2 minutes into the period, cutting the Portland lead to 3-1. Dennis McAuley gave Portland some breathing room later in the period, scoring on a 2-on-1 with Corey Tropp feeding him the puck. Newbury would score again just 21 seconds later to make it 4-2 Pirates. Chad Kolarik would score the Whale's second power play goal with eight minutes to go in the second, after three players were sent to the box for roughing. The physicality was heating up, and the Whale had all the momentum. McAuley would go to the penalty box at the end of the period, and give Connecticut a man-advantage to start the third.

While the Whale didn't score on the power play, they did light the lamp only seconds later. Brodie Dupont would score with the Whale still attacking in the Portland zone, with Blake Parlett and Kelsey Tessier picking up assists. Dupont would go to the penalty box five seconds later for tripping, and after that his night was done. The Pirates took advantage of Dupont's untimely penalty, as Mark Parrish scored a minute into the power play, with Persson and Mancari picking up the assists.

The 17 minutes left to play seemed like an eternity for the Pirates. Dave Leggio had to stop Connecticut's best efforts time after time as they tried to net the equalizer. His best stop of the night came with only 2.8 seconds remaining, as he somehow stopped the puck between his skate and the left post. No one, including Leggio, knew if the puck had gone in, but after a few long moments, the refs ruled it was in fact a save. The Pirates won the faceoff, and as the buzzer sounded escaped with a hard-fought victory.

Mancari was named the #1 star after collecting a goal and 2 assists and taking 9 shots. Corey Tropp was named the #2 star after assisting on 2 of the goals and finishing with a +2 plus/minus rating. Connecticut's Newbury was named the #3 star after scoring the Whale's first 2 goals and later assisting on another.

The series heads back to Hartford for game 6 on Saturday, with the Pirates looking to close out the series, and the Whale looking to tie it up and extend their season.

-WIL KRAMLICH-

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Pirates Forward Mark Mancari

Pirates Head Coach Kevin Dineen

Whale all over Pirates, ties series at 2

Mats Zuccarello and Chad Kolarik each had a goal and an assist to lead the Connecticut Whale to a 3-1 win over the Portland Pirates in Game 4 of the their best-of-seven Atlantic Division Semifinal Series played tonight at the XL Center.

The series is now tied at 2-2.

John Mitchell netted the other Whale goal.
          
Mark Voakes scored the lone Pirates goal.

Kolarik, playing in his first game of the series after missing the first three due to an injury suffered in the regular season, gave the Whale a 1-0 lead after one when he connected on a five-on-three power play in the later stages of the opening period. Mitchell netted the lone goal of the second period to send the Whale into the third with a 2-0 advantage. Zuccarello, in his first game of the season after being returned from the New York Rangers, lifted the Whale into a 3-0 lead before Voakes got the Pirates on the board to complete the scoring.

The Whale out shot the Pirates 30-20 in the game as David Leggio took the loss.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were all from the Whale. Kolarik was the first, Zuccarello the second and Wade Redden the third.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. The first 2,000 fans into the game will receive thundersticks courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Plus, bring a non-winning Maine State Lottery ticket to the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office either in advance or on the day of the game and receive a FREE Pirates playoff ticket with the purchase of a ticket of equal or greater value. Get your tickets at the Civic Center Box Office, by calling (207) 775-3458 or at portlandpirates.com.
-PORTLAND PIRATES-