4/1 Recap: Gerbe, Kennedy named All-Rookie; Zagrapan hits 20

On Wednesday, Marek Zagrapan scored his 20th of the season and added an assist as Portland lost to Hartford, 5-3. Zagrapan hits the 20-goal barrier for the first time in his young career after years of 17 and 18 goals. Tim Kennedy notched his 17th goal, while defensemen Dennis Persson, Mike Kostka, and Marc-Andre Gragnani had assists in the loss. Jhonas Enroth made 26 saves to move his record to 23-22-0-5. The Rundown: Zagrapan: 1G, 1A, 5 SOG Kennedy: 1G Persson: 1A, -1 Kostka: 1A, -1 Gragnani: 1A, -3 Gerbe: 6 SOG Mancari: 8 SOG Whitmore: -2 Schutz: -1 Enroth: 26 saves Earlier in the day, Gerbe and Kennedy were both named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. 2008-09 AHL All-Rookie Team Tim Kennedy, Forward (Portland Pirates): A teammate of Justin Abdelkader's on Michigan State's 2007 national championship team, Tim Kennedy stormed out of the gate by registering a point in his first nine professional games for Portland this season. He leads all AHL rookies with 43 assists and 59 points in 66 games overall and has registered 14 multiple-point efforts. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut for the Sabres in his hometown of Buffalo on Dec. 27 and was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week on Feb. 15 with five goals and 10 points in a four-game span. Nathan Gerbe, Forward (Portland Pirates): Nathan Gerbe has torn up the AHL for 26 goals and 50 points in just 50 games for Portland this season, including seven multiple-goal efforts and a hat trick. Drafted by Buffalo in 2005, Gerbe made his National Hockey League debut with the Sabres in December and has contributed one assist in 10 NHL games this year. A native of Oxford, Mich., the 21-year-old Gerbe reached the NCAA title game in each of his three seasons at Boston College and led the nation in scoring en route to winning the national championship in 2007-08. 2008-09 AHL All-Rookie Team Goaltender: Nathan Lawson, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (30gp, 18-9-2, 2.13gaa, .929sv%, 2so) Defenseman: Mattias Karlsson, Binghamton Senators (67gp, 8+41=49pts.) Defenseman: Yannick Weber, Hamilton Bulldogs (66gp, 14+27=41pts.) Forward: Justin Abdelkader, Grand Rapids Griffins (71gp, 22+27=49pts.) Forward: Nathan Gerbe, Portland Pirates (50gp, 26+24=50pts.) Forward: Tim Kennedy, Portland Pirates (66gp, 16+43=59pts.)

Felix feelin' it, Persson points as Pirates produce

Felix Schutz had a goal and two assists, while Tim Kennedy scored the late game winner to go along with an earlier helper as Portland defeated lowly Springfield, 4-3, to earn their first three-game win streak since January. Playing in his second career AHL game, Dennis Persson received the only assist on Kennedy's goal while Nathan Gerbe and Marc-Andre Gragnani also chipped in an assist each. Jhonas Enroth made 33 saves to collect his 23rd win of the season. The Rundown: Schutz: 1G, 2A, +1 Kennedy: GWG, 1A, 2 SOG Gerbe: 1A, +1, 5 SOG Persson: 1A Gragnani: 1A Kostka: even Zagrapan: -1 Whitmore: -1 Mancari: -1 Enroth: 33 saves, W On Saturday, Marek Zagrapan had three assists as the Pirates rode a Colin Murphy hat trick past Manchester, 5-2. Gragnani had a goal and an assist for Portland, while Gerbe potted his 26th goal of the year. The Rundown: Gragnani: 1G, 1A Gerbe: 1G, -1, 7 SOG Zagrapan: 3A, +1 Mancari: 1A, +1 Whitmore: even Kostka: 2 SOG Persson: -1 Schutz: -1 Enroth: 24 Saves, W

Enroth guides Pirates to key victory

Resuming our AHL coverage, Jhonas Enroth made 39 saves on Friday in Portland's 3-2 win over Lowell. Tim Kennedy (15th), Marek Zagrapan (19th), and Marc-Andre Gragnani (8th) scored second period goals to end the Pirates' three-game losing streak and keep them in the thick of the playoff hunt with nine games to play. Dennis Persson joined the Pirates earlier in the week, and should see his first AHL action over the weekend. The Rundown: Kennedy: G, +1 Zagrapan: G, +1, 5 SOG Gragnani: G, 3 SOG Mancari: 2A, +1 Gerbe: -1, 6 SOG Schutz: -1 Kostka: 4 SOG Whitmore: 1 SOG Enroth: 39 saves

Schutz penalty shot seals Pirates win

Felix Schutz connected on a second period penalty shot as Portland defeated Worcester, 2-1. The German rookie was hauled down on a short-handed breakaway after a nice steal to create the winning opportunity, and the goal held up through a scoreless third. Mark Mancari teed up a left-point blast for the Pirates first goal, with assists going to Tim Kennedy and Mathieu Darche. Jhonas Enroth was given the night off while John Decaro made 25 saves for his second win of the season. The Rundown Schutz: 1G, 5 SOG, +1 Mancari: 1G, +1 Kennedy: 1A, +1 Gragnani: +1 Zagrapan: +1 Weber: even Hunter: even Kostka: even Whitmore: even

Pirates win, make way to Buffalo

In Hershey, Mike Kostka scored the game winning goal to lead Portland to a 3-2 win over the Bears. While on a delayed penalty at 8:17 of the second period, the first-year defenseman used a screen from the high slot to cash in his fourth goal of the season. Derek Whitmore scored his eight of the year in the first period for the Pirates, while Mark Mancari, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Dylan Hunter, and Nathan Gerbe all picked up assists in the win. Jhonas Enroth was given a day of rest, and will get the start Tuesday night in Buffalo when the Pirates host Albany at HSBC Arena. The Rundown: Kostka: GWG, +2 Whitmore: 1G, +1 Gerbe: 1A, +1, 5 SOG Hunter: 1A, +1 Gragnani: 1A, +1 Mancari: 1A Zagrapan: 2 SOG Schutz: even, 2 PIM

Enroth stops 44, Kennedy's streak ends in loss

Jhonas Enroth made a career best 44 saves, yet gave up two goals in the shootout as Portland lost 3-2 at Albany. The Pirates welcomed rookie all-star Nathan Gerbe back to the lineup after the forward missed seven games due to injury. Mark Mancari scored his 19th of the year on the power play, with assists going to Gerbe and Marc-Andre Gragnani. Gragnani faked a shot and whisked the puck to Mancari who ripped a beam under the crossbar. Marek Zagrapan assisted on the first Portland goal by Colton Fretter at 1:48 of the second period. Mancari, Gerbe, Tim Kennedy, and Tyler Bouck all struck out in the breakaway round. Kennedy saw his five-game point streak snapped in the loss, while Dylan Hunter missed the game with a bug. Line combos: Mathieu Darche-Tim Kennedy-Mark Mancari Nathan Gerbe-Marek Zagrapan-Colton Fretter Aaron Slattengren-Derek Whitmore-Jimmy Bonneau Felix Schutz-Tyler Bouck-Kyle Rank. Defense pairings: Marc-Andre Gragnani-Mike Kostka Kenny Macaulay-Matt MacDonald Cliff Loya-Zach Tarkir. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, -1 Gerbe: 1A, 2 SOG Zagrapan: 1A, +1, 4 PIM Gragnani: 1A, 2 SOG Kennedy: -1, 4 SOG Whitmore: 1 SOG Kostka: even Enroth: 44 saves, L

Pirates lose; Kennedy on the mend

Mark Mancari put Portland up 1-0, but Hartford closed with three unanswered goals to beat the decimated Pirates, 3-1. The goal was Mancari's 17th on the season, with assists going to Marc-Andre Gragnani and Mathieu Darche. Jhonas Enroth made 27 stops in the loss. Add Tim Kennedy to the Pirates injury heap that already includes Mike Weber, Mike Funk, Dylan Hunter, Paul Baier, and Adam Dennis. Kennedy missed the game after having a number (7?) of teeth knocked out after taking a high stick from Gabe Gauthier in the Pirates Saturday loss to Manchester. Gauthier received a double minor on the play. Kennedy received oral surgery. With injuries and illness abound (Gerbe missed the contest due to sickness), Portland went to battle with just 16 skaters for the Monday afternoon tilt. The loss makes the Pirates 1-4 in their last five home games. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, 4 SOG Gragnani: 1A, +1 Zagrapan: +1 Kostka: -1 Card: even Whitmore: 3 SOG Schutz: -2

Monarchs come back to defeat Pirates

Jhonas Enroth made 32 saves including a stop on a penalty shot, but Manchester rode a trio of third period goals to edge the Pirates, 3-2. Mark Mancari blasted a slapper from inside the left point to notch his 16th goal of the year, while Tim Kennedy and Derek Whitmore picked up helpers in the loss. Enroth stopped Trevor Lewis with a pad save after throwing his stick to thwart a near-goal with :01 left in the second period. The stop held Portland's lead at 1-0 after two periods before the wheels came off in the third. Marc-Andre Gragnani, the Pirates top scoring defenseman with 28 points, missed the contest due to a flu bug. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, +1, 4 SOG Kennedy: 1A, +1 Whitmore: 1A Gerbe: -2, 5 SOG Kostka: 2 SOG Schutz: 2 SOG Zagrapan: -2 Card: -2 Enroth: 32 saves, L

Gerbe, Zagrapan lead Pirates past Providence

Nathan Gerbe scored twice, and Marek Zagrapan capped the come-from-behind effort with the game winning goal, his 13th of the year, as Portland defeated Providence, 5-3. Marc-Andre Gragnani added three assists from the back end to help pace the victors. Jhonas Enroth got the nod in net, making 37 saves to push the Pirates to their first road win in eight games. Portland played without the services of Tim Kennedy (hip), Mike Weber (leg), and Dylan Hunter (consussion symptoms). The Rundown: Gerbe: 2G, +2 Zagrapan: 1G, 1A, -2 Schutz: 1G, +3 Mancari: 2A, +1 Gragnani: 3A Card: 2PIM Whitmore: 1 SOG Kostka: +1 Enroth: 37 sabes, W