Showing posts with label portland pirates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portland pirates. Show all posts

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Pirates slowed by Rats

Nathan Gerbe coupled a late goal with an earlier assist as Portland lost to Albany, 5-2. Cody McCormick added the other goal for the Pirates, who moved to 0-2 on the season. Jhonas Enroth stopped 29 shots while allowing three power play goals. The Pirates will play their home opener on Saturday against Providence. Zach Boychuk had a goal and two assists to lead the Rats. The Rundown: Gerbe: 1G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG Schutz: 1A, +1 Schiestel: +1 Weber: 9 PIM Gragnani: E Kostka: E Ennis: E Brennan: 1 SOG Turnbull: 2 SOG Persson: -1 Byron: -1 Mancari: -2, 5 SOG Gogulla: -2 Enroth: 29 saves, L

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Dennis to start; Funk out indefinitely

The Portland Pirates will kick off their 2008-09 season tonight with a skate against Manchester. The Maine Hockey Journal reports that Kevin Dineen will likely keep Jhonas Enroth in waiting, instead giving the start to veteran netminder Adam Dennis. MHJ has also posted what they feel will the line combos for the contest.
F Mancari – Kennedy – Gerbe Darche – Zagrapan – Murphy Whitmore – Hunter – Bouck Fretter – Schutz – Bonneau

D Weber – Card Butler – Baier Kostka – Gragnani

With Mike Funk concussed, the presence of Mike Weber should provide quite a spark to the Pirates blueline. Per the Portland Press Herald, Weber thinks there might be a natural flicker by no longer sharing an AHL affiliation with the Florida Panthers.

Portland Pirates defenseman Mike Weber had been in town less than 24 hours, but he already sensed a big difference between this AHL team and the one he played on last season in Rochester.

"It's a better setup than what we had in Rochester," Weber said Friday morning. "We had two different (NHL) teams barking at the coaching staff, and there was a divide in the locker room. Here, it's a different situation."

Last spring, the Sabres ended a 29-year relationship with the Rochester Americans after sharing the AHL affiliate with the Florida Panthers for three seasons.

"Florida said they wanted these systems, and Buffalo said they wanted these systems, and the players were in the middle," Weber recalled. "It was a little bit crazy."

In June, Buffalo became the new NHL parent of the Pirates after the Anaheim Ducks ended their three-year affiliation with Portland.

"Everyone's on the same page here," Weber said. "It provides a less stressful environment."

It's safe to say that these comments validate the patience that many have taken with promising talents like Marek Zagrapan. On top of lacking veterans, last year's Amerks lacked any sense of cohesion.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Enroth done with SSK, expects to be in Portland

News site Lanstidningen i Soldertalje is reporting that Jhonas Enroth will not be returning to SSK of the SEL, and instead is focusing on getting a deal done with the Sabres before the June 1st deadline. After that date, Buffalo will no longer own the rights to the Swedish netminder. Enroth mentions the Portland Pirates by name as his expected 2008-09 club. He's not against playing with the farm club "as long as the Sabres offer does not pay him poorly". He isn't ruling out a return to the SEL, but admits that he hasn't spoken to his agent regarding that option. For those who haven't been following, Portland is the long rumored destination of Buffalo's AHL partner next season. The Sabres have confirmed that they were ending the league's longest running affiliation agreement with Rochester, but no official announcement has been made regarding Portland. The Pirates, who have been stocked with Anaheim Ducks prospects the past three seasons, are currently playing the AHL Eastern Conference Finals. Expect a Larry Quinn press conference shortly after the Pirates season concludes.