High Fives for Pirates

Portland, ME – The Portland Pirates are certainly not going to go down without a fight. After giving up a 2-0 lead, Clay Wilson scored with 43 seconds left in the game, giving the Pirates a 3-2 win over the Springfield Falcons before 5,097 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

With the win, the Pirates (82 points) extended their winning streak to five games and now only one point behind the Lowell Devils and three points behind the Worcester Sharks for the fourth playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

Just like the night before the Pirates zipped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Bobby Ryan, Anaheim’s first round draft pick, scored his first goal of the season while on the power play.

Brian Salcido spotted the drifting Ryan to the right face-off dot, who ripped a one timer, by Falcons goaltender Kevin Beech at 4:28 of the first period.

At 10:57, Sean Blanchard found Drew Miller alone in the slot, spinning around, lifting the puck over the shoulder of Beech, as the Pirates scored their second goal on the power play.

The Falcons would break the Pirates streak of 26 straight penalties killed as Kyle Wanvig scored with two minutes remaining in the second period.

Late in the third period, the Falcons would tie the game at 2-2 as a turnover in the Pirates zone led to an odd man rush for the Falcons. Adam Henrich sent a drop pass to David Spina, who snapped a shot over the shoulder of Pirates goaltender David McKee at 16:11 of the third period.

With just 43 seconds left in the game, Joe Motzko worked his way into the slot, firing the puck through a series of bodies. Beech made the initial save, but gave up a rebound that Clay Wilson was able to get his stick on, sending a backhander into the net, giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

David McKee stopped 25 of 27 shots for his fourth straight win, while Kevin Beech stopped 29 shots in the loss.

Plank Notes:
– The Pirates return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Hartford to take on the Wolf Pack. Game Time is 7:05pm

Three Stars of the Game:
1. POR- David McKee (27SH/25SV)
2. POR- Clay Wilson (1G, GWG)
3. SPR- Kevin Beech (32SH/29SV)

Shots on Goal:
POR 10-10-12=32
SPR 13-7-7=27

Goals by Period:
POR 2-0-1=3
SPR 0-1-1=2

Power Play Summary:
Portland Pirates PP – 2-for-7
Springfield Falcons PP – 1-for-6

Goaltending Summary:
POR David McKee (4-0-0) 27 Shots/ 25 Saves
SPR Kevin Beech (0-2-0) 32 Shots/ 29 Saves

Scoring Summary:
1. POR Ryan, (1) (Salcido, Weinrich), 4:28 (PP)
1. POR Miller, (14) (Blanchard, Carter), 10:57 (PP)
2. SPR Wanvig, (19) (Healey, Kuiper), 18:00 (PP)
3. SPR Spina, (13) (Henrich, Kuiper), 16:11
3. POR Wilson, (7) (Motzko, Carter), 19:17

Penalty Summary:
1 – SPR Healey, 4:08 – Holding , 2 min (PP)
1 – POR Melin, 7:34 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)
1 – SPR Dufresne, 9:34 – Interference , 2 min (PP)
1 – SPR Henrich, 15:29 – Fighting , 5 min
1 – POR Rome, 15:29 – Fighting , 5 min
1 – SPR Wanvig, 17:09 – Fighting , 5 min
1 – POR Carter, 17:09 – Roughing , 2 min (PP)
1 – POR Carter, 17:09 – Fighting , 5 min
2 – SPR Kuiper, 3:32 – Tripping , 2 min (PP)
2 – SPR Fletcher, 6:56 – Holding , 2 min (PP)
2 – SPR Egener, 10:58 – Interference , 2 min (PP)
2 – SPR Spina, 14:57 – Roughing , 2 min
2 – POR Ferguson, 14:57 – Roughing , 2 min (PP)
2 – POR Ferguson, 14:57 – Roughing , 2 min (PP)
2 – POR Rome, 14:57 – Roughing , 2 min
3 – POR Keith, 1:39 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)
3 – SPR Wanvig, 3:08 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)
3 – POR Carter, 9:44 – Tripping , 2 min (PP)
3 – SPR Cavanaugh, 13:07 – Hooking , 2 min (PP)

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