Maine Hockey Journal

Pirates use balance attack in victory over Springfield

Portland Pirates regular season contest against the Springfield Falcons at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 2/28/2016. (PHOTO: Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

Portland Pirates regular season contest against the Springfield Falcons at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on 2/28/2016. (PHOTO: Michael McSweeney/Portland Pirates)

PORTLAND – A balanced scoring attack was enough to lift the Portland Pirates past the Springfield Falcons, 4-2, Sunday afternoon before 3,955 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

Portland (31-20-2-1) scored a shorthanded goal, power play goal, even-strength goal and an empty-net goal to grab five of six points in their last three games, and remain in third place in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, six points behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with two games in hand.

“We hit for the cycle, and that was big,” said Pirates coach Scott Allen. “Unfortunately, we gave up a shorthanded goal against.”

Special teams were critical for the Pirates, going 1-for-5 with the man advantage while killing all five Springfield power plays. The Falcons, who saw their two-game win streak snapped, went 4-for-9 on the power play during that span.

“I certainly liked our penalty kill,” Allen said. “I liked our power play. I thought our special teams were the difference in the game for us today.”

Portland’s penalty kill was tested early with Rocco Grimaldi and Brett Olson whistled for penalties only 1:09 apart less than seven minutes into the first period.

With the Falcons on a five-on-three opportunity for 51 seconds, Pirates forward Wade Megan intercepted the Falcons at center ice only 17 seconds after Olson’s penalty for high-sticking, and transitioned in the other direction with John McFarland for a 2-on-0 breakaway, beating Josh Robinson between the legs for five-on-three shorthanded goal at 7:04 of the first period.

Megan, who has eight goals on the season, recorded his fourth shorthanded goal for a share of the league lead with former Florida Panthers prospect Zach Hyman of the Toronto Marlies.

“I don’t know how often you see a five-on-three shorthanded goal, but that was huge,” said Allen. “Wade Megan is playing outstanding hockey for us right now. He cares about defending first. He cares about keeping the puck out of our net first. He’s not a selfish guy. He knows his responsibility is to not let (the other team) score and anything after that the rest is gravy.”

“I just try to stay in my spots and play well defensively,” Megan said. “I’ve just been getting some fortunate bounces lately, and I’ve been able to finish.”

Former Pirate Eric Selleck tied the game for Springfield, shortly after killing off a Pirates’ power play that carried over from the previous period, ripping a wrist shot from the right circle, picking the upper corner of the net at the 2:16 mark of the second period.

Connor Brickley put Portland back in front, 2-1, with a shot through a screen into the far left corner of the net just 1:11 into the third period.

Rocco Grimaldi scored the first of his two goals on the night with a booming slap shot from the left circle, beating Robinson for the power play goal at 7:58 of the third period, giving the Pirates a two-goal lead, 3-1.

After snapping a 0-for-36 skid with the man advantage, the Pirates have scored power play goals in back-to-back games (2-for-6) for the first time since late January. Still Grimaldi said the team has more work to do on the power play.

“We still have work to do, for sure,” said Grimaldi. “It’s nice to score the last couple games, but we have to keep that up. We want to be a team that can score, not just one, but maybe two a game. If you look at a team like Providence, you don’t ever want to put them on the power play. We want that same reputation. We’re not there yet, but it’s something we are working on.”

Another former Pirate Jordan Szwarz, who was captain of the Pirates during the 2013-’14 season, pulled the Falcons back within a goal after the Pirates power play allowed a shorthanded goal with 9:01 left in the third period.

“It was a tough bounce,” said Allen. “Johnny McFarland goes to take the shot, it hits the guy’s shin pads and comes the other way. Unfortunate, especially the timing of it, but you have got to play through those things.”

Pirates’ goalie Mike McKenna finished with 24 saves for his 76th victory in a Pirates uniform and is only three wins away from tying Martin Brochu’s record for the all-time lead in franchise victories.

Grimaldi capped off the scoring for Portland with an empty net goal, chipping a high shot from center ice with 1:05 left in the game.

NOTES: The NHL trade deadline is tomorrow at 3 pm EST. Any player currently on an NHL roster must be on an AHL roster at 3 pm deadline tomorrow to be eligible to play in that league after that point including playoffs. This would apply to several players currently with the Panthers including Garrett Wilson, Greg McKegg, Kyle Rau, Mike Matheson and Logan Shaw…. Panthers forwards Derek MacKenzie (upper body) and Dave Bolland (lower body) have been placed on Injured Reserve. MacKenzie suffered his injury in the Panthers game on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bolland has not skated with the Panthers since being recalled from the Pirates on Dec. 21…. Panthers goalie Al Montoya was injured during Sunday afternoon loss to the Minnesota Wild. Montoya had to leave the game with an upper-body injury and did not return. Pending his injury status, the Panthers, who play Tuesday in Winnipeg, will need to recall a goaltender from Portland.

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