Maine Hockey Journal

Panthers look toward the Pirates for a wake up call

Portland Pirates regular season contest against the Rochester Americans at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 10/31/2015. (PHOTO: Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

Portland Pirates regular season contest against the Rochester Americans at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 10/31/2015. (PHOTO: Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

The Florida Panthers are struggling at the moment and have decided to make several roster moves in an attempt to jumpstart the team out of its losing ways.

As a result, the Panthers are looking toward its AHL affiliate for help by recalling forwards Connor Brickley and Logan Shaw from the Portland Pirates on Tuesday.

The Panthers (8-9-4) have lost nine of their last 12 games (3-6-3) which include a current three-game losing streak and presently sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 20 points.

Brickley, who earned a spot on the Panthers opening day roster and appeared in 10 games before being assigned to the AHL on November 9, played 10 games during his stint with the Pirates, recording a goal and two assists for three points. He played mostly on the top line with John McFarland and Rob Schremp until last weekend when he was shifted to the second line with Shane Harper and Brett Olson.

Shaw, 23, is being recalled to the Panthers for the second time this season. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound forward was originally recalled to the Panthers on Oct. 30 where he made his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins.

Shaw appeared in 13 games with the Pirates, scoring seven goals and one assist for eight points. He’s tied with Rob Schremp and Kyle Rau for the team lead in goals.

To make room on the NHL roster, the Panthers assigned forwards Rocco Grimaldi and Garrett Wilson to the Pirates.

The Pirates also struggled at times this season. Portland has been streaky over the first 15 games. The team lost five straight games, before going on a four-game winning streak, and was swept by the Hershey Bears last weekend to fall below the .500 mark with a 7-8-0-0 record.

Wilson played seven games for the Pirates, recording four assists. Before being recalled to Florida on Nov. 2, Wilson was playing extended time with Schremp and Shane Harper on the top line. Wilson appeared in six games for the Panthers during his recent stint.

Grimaldi, who began the season injured, played five games for the Pirates after being assigned two weeks into the regular season. He’s tallied three assists during his time in Portland before being recalled to Florida on Oct. 31. The 5-foot-6, 160-pound forward appeared in 10 games with the Panthers, scoring a goal and one assist for two points.

The Pirates could also see Corban Knight make his team debut at some point this weekend as he appears to close to returning from surgery for a lower-body injury.

Knight played 58 games last season in the AHL with San Antonio and Adirondack, recording 16 goals, 20 assists for 36 points.

According to reports from Florida media, Al Montoya passed his concussion test and should be available to back up goaltender Roberto Luongo Friday at home against the New York Islanders.

Montoya sustained a sore neck according to the media reports after a collision with Los Angeles Kings’ rookie Nick Shore in Monday’s 3-1 loss. If Montoya weren’t available to backup Luongo on Friday, the Panthers would have likely recalled Mike McKenna from the Pirates, which would have resulted in Colin Stevens being summoned from the Manchester Monarchs. Stevens earned his first professional win Saturday against the Norfolk Admirals.

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