Maine Hockey Journal

Pirates begin season with a victory

Both teams battle in front of Mike McKenna #56 of the Portland Pirates during the Portland Pirates 2014-15 season opener vs the Providence Bruins at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 10/11/2014. (Photo by Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

Both teams battle in front of Mike McKenna #56 of the Portland Pirates during the Portland Pirates 2014-15 season opener vs the Providence Bruins at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 10/11/2014. (Photo by Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

PORTLAND – It has been nearly 18 months since the Portland Pirates last played a regular season game in downtown Portland at the former Cumberland County Civic Center.

They made sure they didn’t disappoint in their return Saturday night as the Pirates scored three times in the third period to win their season-opening game, 3-2, against the Providence Bruins in front of a 5,601 at the Cross Insurance Arena.

It was the Pirates first game back at the newly-renovated arena since May 2, 2013 where they lost in overtime to the Syracuse Crunch, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Talk about fun,” said Pirates’ goalie Mike McKenna. “It was great and so much fun to be out there and see how well we were accepted.”

“I don’t know what the (attendance) was on the crowd, but it looked big to us. We could hear them, and we knew they were here. Their excitement carried right over to us.”

The Pirates were forced to play last season at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston because of on-going renovations to the arena, and later a long drawn out lease dispute between previous managing owner Brian Petrovek and the civic center’s trustees. Crowds at the Colisee were sparse, resulting in the team finishing last in the American Hockey League attendance, and the on-ice product wasn’t too far behind as the team posted one of its worst seasons, statistically, in franchise history.

Saturday night provided the Pirates an opportunity to begin rebuilding bridges with its fans.

The win was a good start.

“It was extremely exciting,” said Brendan Shinnimin. “There was a lot of energy in the dressing room before the game and lot of energy in the building tonight. It’s easier to play that way when you actually have fans cheering you on.”

Trailing 1-0, Portland began the third period with a carryover power play for 1:22. Second-year forward Lucas Lessio tied the game, 1-1, only seven seconds left in the power play skating around the net and banking the puck of Bruins’ goalie Jeremy Smith’s leg pad into the net.

Just 1:05 later, Darian Dziurzynski gave the Pirates its first lead of the game, 2-1, racing down the left wing and ripping a shot from the top of the faceoff that beat Smith five-hole. Dylan Reese and Andrew Campbell were credited with the assists on the play.

After a sluggish start to the game, Portland dominated Providence in the third period and extended their lead by two goals, scoring their second power-play goal of the night.

Shinnimin in the slot snapped a quick shot through a screen set up by Pirates’ captain Alex Bolduc, beating Smith between the legs at the 7:01 mark of the third period.

“It was sort of a ‘first game of the year’ start. I think when you wait around for 20 minutes and go through all the pregame stuff, it just took us some time to get going,” said Pirates’ GM/Coach Ray Edwards. “The power play, even though it was ugly, got a couple goals for us. We were able to hang on at the end. There is definitely room for improvement, but it’s nice to get one out of the way.”

Providence got one back late in the third period as Boston Bruins’ first round (25th overall), David Pastrnak, spun around from the top of the blueline and snapped a shot by McKenna, making it 3-2, with 3:16 to play in the game.

Providence opened the scoring in the game, after a scoreless first period, as Alexander Fallstrom beat McKenna shortside.

“I hope I don’t allow another goal like that all season. Especially myself,” said McKenna, who finished with 25 saves. “We got past that and managed to win the game.”

NOTES: Brandon Gormley was a scratch because of a lower-body injury. Edwards said he believed he’ll be ready for the Pirates next game at home next Friday against Binghamton… Former members of the Pirates’ 1994 Calder Cup Championship, Kevin Kaminski, Kent Hulst, Jeff Nelson and Jim Matheson were on hand for the ceremonial puck drop.

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