Maine Hockey Journal

Pirates suffer offensive drought against Comets.

Portland Pirates regular season contest against the Utica Comets at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 11/27/2015. (PHOTO: Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

Portland Pirates regular season contest against the Utica Comets at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 11/27/2015. (PHOTO: Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

PORTLAND – Richard Bachman made 29 saves for the Utica Comets in a 4-1 victory over the Portland Pirates Friday night before 2,729 at the Cross Insurance Arena in downtown Portland.

It was a frustrating loss for the Pirates after suffering their third straight defeat to fall to 7-9-0-0 on the season.

The team played well, but could never generate timely scoring despite having several quality chances during the game.

They won’t get much time to dwell on it as both teams will meet again on Saturday at the CIA.

“I thought we played well,” said Pirates defenseman Cameron Gaunce. “We had a lot of opportunities and lots of good things in the defensive zone and offensive zone. We have to take a positive out of it. Out of 76 games if you are going to lose a couple like that you have to be able to live with yourself and move on.

“We had a ton of chances,” said Pirates coach Tom Rowe. “I told the guys to keep their head up. They’re trying so damn hard. It’s not from a lack of effort. I thought we had a lot of chances. Got to give Bachman credit. He played a great game.”

The game was much closer than the 4-1 final dictated. For nearly 54 minutes, it was a 1-0 Utica lead before the Comets added an insurance goal with 6:14 to play in regulation.

Utica went on the power play with seven minutes to play in the game after Sena Acolatse was called for high-sticking. Utica, set up in the offensive zone, worked the puck to Taylor Fedun for a one-timer from the point that deflected off a Pirates’ skate beating goaltender Mike McKenna.

The Comets added two empty-net goals late in the third period sandwiched by the Pirates finally getting on the board with 1:10 to play in regulation although the goal was originally waived off.

Brett Regner fired shot toward Bachman that was tipped by Chase Balisy, sending the puck over the Utica netminder’s head into the net. Referee Terry Koharski originally waived it off, indicating it was a high-stick, but after conferring with his linemen, it was ruled a goal to give Balisy his third goal of the season.

Bachman is no stranger to the Pirates, sort of. Bachman played for both Oklahoma City and Texas while the Panthers’ AHL affiliate was located in San Antonio, TX.

“We know him really well,” said Rowe. “He’s a good goalie and a quality number three. We did a lot good things. We did what we wanted to do in the offensive zone. You have to give Utica credit. They play a hard game. It was one of those nights.”

Utica finished 1-for-3 on the power play, but the Pirates power play finished 0-for-3 on the night.

The Pirates power play has struggled all season, never more so than over the last month where the team has been scoring at a paltry eight percent. Portland is 4-for-50 (8.0%) on the power play in their last 12 games.

“I thought we moved the puck around better than we had been,” said Rowe of the team’s power play. “They’re an extremely aggressive penalty killing team. We showed them video, and they took what they saw and applied it. We just need to keep working hard.”

Utica opened the scoring at 7:21 of the first period.

Ashton Saunter fired a shot from the point that was tipped by Carter Bancks past McKenna, who finished with 15 saves.

NOTES: Rocco Grimaldi and Garrett Wilson were in the lineup for the Pirates after being assigned by the parent club Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Logan Shaw and Connor Brickley, who were both recalled to the Panthers, were in the lineup against the New York Islanders… Derek Army, MacKenzie Weegar were healthy scratches. Corban Knight is still out injured as he recovers from surgery but is close to returning to action.

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