Manchester Monarchs on Wednesday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. The defeat gives the Monarchs a 2-1 point advantage for the 2013-14 VIP Cup, presented by VIP Tires & Service.
Tobias Rieder scored two power play goals and Mark Visentin made 36 saves, but the Monarchs were able to top the Pirates 2-1 in the shootout to walk away with the victory.
Early on, the Pirates looked in good shape, getting good pressure on Manchester. On their second power play of the game, the Pirates struck gold. Andy Miele, the Pirates leader in points and assists last season, drew two defenders before playing a beautiful saucer pass to the stick of Tobias Rieder who rang his shot from the slot off of the framework and in.
After the first, the Pirates came out a little flat, failing to produce much pressure on the remainder of a penalty taken by the Monarchs late in the second. A short time later, Visentin came out of his net to play the puck and slid it over to his defenseman. The Pirates misplayed the puck and the Monarchs made them pay as Linden Vey threw the puck into the middle where Derek Forbort ripped a shot high on Visentin to knot the game at one.
The Pirates tried to take back the lead, getting some good chances throughout the period. Late in the second, Martin Jones kept the game tied at one as he slid from left to right to stop an Andy Miele deflection in front of the net. A minute later, the Monarchs made a long pass out of their own end as Forbort found Vey streaking up the middle. Vey flew past the Pirates defense and beat Visentin high on the glove side to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead heading into the third.
The Pirates began pushing harder into the third, but were unable to find anything in the first half of the period. Just before the ten minute mark, Kyle Hagel breathed new life into the fans and the bench as he fought Monarchs defenseman Forbort, getting a few of his punches to land and taking the bigger opponent down. Though the Pirates ended up shorthanded after the bout, momentum shifted towards the Pirates end, with the Pirates completing the penalty kill and going on the man advantage after a Jordan Weal penalty.
The Key Bank Key to the Game came on the ensuing power play when Rieder again scored for the Pirates, this time finding a loose puck in front of the net and slamming it home. Miele again was credited with the primary assist and Chris Brown, the Pirates goal-scoring leader from last season, notched his first point of the year with the secondary assist.
In overtime, Manchester controlled the pace of the game, forcing much of the play in the Pirates defensive end, though only managing a single shot.
In the shootout, the Monarchs scored twice on Visentin, beating him once on a nice backhand-forehand deke by Tyler Toffoli and again on a great shot by Brandon Kozun that beat the Pirates goalie high on the blocker side.
Down 2-1 in the shootout and needing a goal, Lucas Lessio cut out wide right and took a shot that was knocked aside by Jones.
While their home opener ended in defeat, the Pirates were able to come away with a point and had great play from their special teams--Portland went 2 for 5 on the power play while holding the Monarchs scoreless on all three of their opportunities with the man-advantage.
The Pirates will next play Saturday when they host the Providence Bruins at the Colisée. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling the Colisee Box Office at 783-2009 ext. 525 or online at thecolisee.com
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