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Matheson scores overtime win for Pirates

Mike Matheson scored the game-winning goal early into overtime to send the Portland Pirates to their second straight victory Saturday evening with a 2-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before 8,160 at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA.

On the longest road trip of the season, the Pirates (28-18-1-0) have claimed wins in the first two games of the seven-game, 12-day trip through Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, Canada and Connecticut.

I told the guys after the first leg of this trip we didn’t come out to play three games, but we came out to win three games,” said Pirates coach Scott Allen. “We got two in the bank, and we know that the third is going to be even tougher.”

“I think we put a good sixty minutes plus the two minutes or so in overtime out there,” said Matheson. “Last night, I think we kind of got away with one. It wasn’t our best game, but we still found a way to win. This game was a little bit different. We did the right things and was able to get the win.”

Matheson nearly went from hero to zero in the closing minute of a tied game.

Matheson had his point shot blocked by Carter Rowney, who was sprung free for a breakaway with the defenseman in tow, only to see a penalty shot awarded to the Penguins after Matheson tripped Rowney on the breakaway.

Rowney shot was stopped by Pirates’ goaltender Sam Brittain.

Matheson redeemed himself just 1:29 into the extra frame when picked up a loose puck and split Will O’Neill and Dominik Simon for a breakaway, beating Tristan Jarry for his fifth goal of the season.

“I knew he wasn’t getting caught, and if he was he was getting a penalty shot because they were going to have to trip him,” said Allen. “It was good to see because he was the guy who had a shot blocked in the offensive zone and made a rookie mistake in that sequence and had to haul a guy down. He was the guy penalized and gave them a penalty shot. It was a great response for him and a huge weight off his shoulder when Sam stopped the shot and to get the game winner.”

The game went scoreless for 43 minutes until Rob Flick scored his sixth of the season off a turnover as he picked up the loose puck and ripped a wrist shot from the right circle past Jarry at the 3:08 mark of the third period.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would even the game at the midway point of the period Dominik Simon snapped a shot that beat Brittain shortside.

Brittain finished with 23 saves.

He was excellent,” Allen said of Brittain. “I had all the confidence in the world with him because of how his night was going. I knew he was on top of his game.”

NOTES: Pirates forward John McFarland, who was recalled by the Florida Panthers on Friday, made his NHL debut with the Panthers Saturday evening against the Nashville Predators… The Pirates may be with Sena Acolatse after he was given a match penalty during Saturday’s game against the Penguins. Acolatse, who got into a fight with Patrick McGrath four minutes into the first period, was given five minutes for fighting plus a match penalty for having taped his hand below his wrist and causing an injury during a fight… The match penalty carries an automatic suspension until the league reviews the penalty.

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