Maine Hockey Journal

Rau and Matheson recalled to Florida; McFarland, Regner assigned to Pirates

The deck is being shuffled again for the Portland Pirates.

The Pirates’ NHL affiliate, Florida Panthers, announce Friday morning that they have recalled defenseman Michael Matheson and forward Kyle Rau from Portland.

Rau, 23, is tied for the team lead with 17 goals and is tied for second on the team with 27 points.

Matheson, 21, has recorded five goals, nine assists for 14 points with a plus-14 rating in 43 games with the Pirates this season.

To make room on the Panthers roster, forward John McFarland and defenseman Brent Regner have been assigned to the Pirates.

McFarland, who was recalled back on Feb. 12, has appeared in three games with the Panthers, going scoreless. In 43 games with the Pirates, McFarland has 14 goals, eight assists for 22 points with a plus-5 rating.

Regner earned his first NHL recall on Feb. 5, playing seven games with the Panthers. Regner, 26, in his seventh season as a professional, has two goals, ten assists for 12 points with a plus-3 rating.

Portland is in the midst of their longest road trip of the season, a seven-game, 12-day road trip, and is scheduled to take on the Rochester Americans tonight at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York.

The Pirates (29-19-1-0) will travel to Toronto for a 1:30 pm matinee on Saturday before making their way to Hartford, Connecticut to wrap up the road trip on Wednesday with a game against the Wolf Pack.

The Pirates are without Kyle Rau, Mike Matheson, Greg McKegg and Garrett Wilson, who are on recall with the Panthers, will also be without Mike McKenna after he left the team to be with his wife who is expecting the family’s second child any day.

Colin Stevens was recalled from the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL on Thursday to back up Sam Brittain while McKenna is away from the team.

Regner and McFarland are expected to arrive in Rochester in time for tonight’s game.

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