Maine Hockey Journal

Pirates Start Road Trip on Wrong Foot

Hershey, PA – In the first game back in Hershey since “the” game seven loss in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Pirates failed to get any revenge as they fell 5-2 to the Bears in front of 6,511 at the Giant Center on Wednesday night.

The Pirates, who began a 10-day, five game road trip through Pennsylvania and Virginia on Wednesday night were hoping to use this as a benchmark to see how they rank against the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

This wasn’t the result they were hoping for.

“I hope getting spank 5-2 is not a good benchmark for what we’re going to try and get done in the next 10 days,” said Pirates Head Coach Kevin Dineen. “We have a lot of work in front of us. We didn’t play the game we needed to play for 60 minutes. We can pat ourselves on back about some strong stretches in a row, but obviously their was a lack of consistency that bites us in the [butt] toward the end of the game.

Bears goaltender Frederic Cassivi, just reassigned from Washington late Tuesday would give up the first goal in the game as Joe Motzko scored his first goal as a Portland Pirate. Motzko picked the puck from Bears defenseman Timo Helbling inside the Pirates zone and skated to the hash-mark before ripping a wrist shot past Cassivi to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead with 4:56 left in the period.

With 2:48 left in the period and the Pirates on the power play, the Bears tied the game back at 1-1 as Quintin Laing scored Hershey’s 18th shorthanded goal of the season [A league high]. Alexandre Giroux skated deep into the Bears zone on a 2-on-1 before dishing the puck to Laing, who flipped a wrist shot by Pirates goaltender Sebastien Caron.

The Bear made the proper adjustments in the second period, taking over the period scoring two more goals, building a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.

With Eric Weinrich serving two minutes for cross-checking, Chad Wiseman, at the top of right blueline, fired the puck, beating Caron, but hitting the post, however Joey Tenute was parked at the left face-off circle and batted the puck past a sprawled out Caron to give the Bears a 2-1 lead at 8:52 of the period.

The Bears scored an auspicious goal with 4:20 left in the second period. A scrum around the Pirates net ensued as Matt Hendricks kept jabbing at puck as it appeared that Caron had it in his glove, but Caron along with the puck were pushed into the net, giving the Bears a 3-1 lead.

Clay Wilson, again playing forward, pulled the Pirates to back within one early in the third period as his first shot was stopped by Cassivi, but he batted at the puck behind Cassivi, banging it off his leg at 4:50 of the period.

“This is the first year I’ve ever played forward,” said Wilson. “It’s all new to me and I’m trying to learn as I go here. Just take it one day at a time and just pick up tips from the guys.”

The Bears took over from there, scoring two more goals to put the game out of reach.

Kyle Wilson walked out from the left goal line, beating Caron upstairs with a quick snap shot, giving the Bears a 4-2 lead at 7:48 of the third period.

Dave Steckel scored his 19th of the season on a turnover at the Bears blueline, skating in alone, lifting the shot over Caron to extend the Bears lead to 5-2 with 5:23 left in the game.

Bears went on to win; giving Head Coach Bruce Boudreau a win is his 1000th game as head coach. Over his coaching career which expands back to 1992-93 with the Muskegon Fury of the UHL, he’s learned that each moment carries a special place but no one particular moment is any more special then any other one.

“The [Calder] cup winning last year was probably the greatest moment in my life after hockey, said Boudreau. “When your playing hockey you have got so many individual moments because you’re out there and you’re doing stuff. The Memorial Cup when I was in junior, being the captain of that team and winning that championship was great, but that was in the first third of your life. Hopefully you can find great moments all the time.”

Plank Notes:
– Former Pirate Pierre Parenteau was recalled to Chicago today from the Norfolk Admirals. Parenteau was traded to Chicago on Dec 28th along with defenseman Bruno St. Jacques for goaltender Sebastien Caron, forwards Matt Keith and Chris Durno.
– Bjorn Melin was a scratch due to an illness.
– Former Pirate Kip Brennan was signed to a PTO by the Hershey Bears. He was in Hershey for the game, but did not dress.
– The Pirates have lost a franchise record 11 games on the road.
– Portland will look to turn things around on Friday night as they travel to Wilkes-Barre Scranton to face the Penguins at the Wachovia Arena. Game Time is 7:00pm

Three Stars of the Game:
1. HER – Frederic Cassivi (34SH/32SV)
2. HER – Chad Wiseman (2A, +1)
3. HER – Joey Tenute (1G)

Shots on Goal:
POR – 14-12-8=34
HER – 4 -12-15=31

Goals by Period:
POR – 1-0-1=2
HER – 1-2-2=5

Power Play Summary:
Portland Pirates PP – 0-for-7
Hershey Bears PP – 1-for-4

Scoring Summary:
1. POR Motzko, (14) , 16:04
1. HER Laing, (11) (Giroux), 18:12 (SH)
2. HER Tenute, (15) (Klepis, Wiseman), 8:52 (PP)
2. HER Hendricks, (9) (Giroux, Wiseman), 15:40
3. POR Wilson, (6) (Huskins, Carter), 4:50
3. HER Wilson, (12) (Robitaille), 7:48
3. HER Steckel, (19) , 14:37

Penalty Summary:
1 – HER Byrne, 4:36 – High-sticking , 2 min (PP)
1 – POR Huskins, 7:50 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)
1 – HER Busenburg, 17:07 – Holding , 2 min (PP)
1 – HER Byrne, 19:06 – Holding , 2 min (PP)
1 – HER Arsene, 19:47 – Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min (PP)
2 – POR Weinrich, 1:50 – Holding , 2 min (PP)
2 – POR Weinrich, 7:55 – Cross-checking , 2 min (PP)
2 – HER Byrne, 18:38 – Interference , 2 min (PP)
3 – POR Rullier, 1:58 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)
3 – HER Tenute, 2:44 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)
3 – POR Peters, 13:56 – Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min
3 – HER Hendricks, 13:56 – Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min
3 – POR Peters, 16:01 – Fighting , 5 min
3 – HER Hendricks, 16:01 – Fighting , 5 min
3 – POR Amadio, 16:30 – Fighting , 5 min
3 – HER Arsene, 16:30 – Fighting , 5 min
3 – HER Robitaille, 19:07 – Slashing , 2 min (PP)

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