Portland Pirates Win 4-3 Shootout Over Lowell Devils - AHL

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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - LOWELL , Mass. – The Portland Pirates (29-23-3-9) made it through a heavy winter storm to arrive in Lowell and edge the Devils (33-24-5-5) in the shootout, 4-3 Friday night at Tsongas Arena.

The Pirates scored the first goal of the game, 3:26 into the contest, on the sixth of the season for Geoff Peters. Lowell bounced back shortly after to tie the game up. Mike Pandolfo potted his third of the season at 4:54 , burying a breakaway cha! nce. Less than a minute later Ryan Murphy scored to give the Devils their first lead of the game. The teams headed to the dressing room with a 2-1 Devils lead.

Early in the second period Portland tied the game up, as Matt Keith notched his 11^th of the season at 4:47 to make it 2-2. Lowell pushed back in front, however, with the 25^th of the season for Chris Minard at 9:49 . The Pirates continued to pressure the Devils in the period, holding a 14-8 lead in shots in the frame.

Lowell could not hold the lead in the third stanza. With two Devils in the box, Mark Hartigan scored a power play goal at 4:25 of the third to once again tie the game. The Pirates took advantage of the few power plays featured in the game, scoring on two of their three man advantages.

Devils G Frank Doyle, who faced 34 saves in regulation, was tested in overtime as well. Portland put up an additional five shots to the Devils two in the extra session, but neither team could end the game. In the shootout, Bjorn Melin, Joe Motzko and Brian Salcido all scored for Portland while Murphy was the only goal scorer for the Devils.

Lowell picked up a point with the shootout loss, and moved to within two points of the Providence Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins lost 3-2 at home against Hartford . The Worcester Sharks were victorious against Hershey at home, putting them three points behind the Devils for the fourth and final playoff spot.