The Portland Pirates dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and beat the Springfield Falcons 4-2 at Cross Insurance Arena to claim three out of a possible four points this weekend.
Penguins 3, Pirates 2 (SO)
Dominik Simon opened the scoring with an even-strength goal at 14:11 of the second period. Simon’s marker was set up by Derek Army and Kael Mouillierat.
Connor Brickley (3) evened the game 42 seconds into the final frame. Defensemen Cameron Gaunce and Brent Regner drew the assists on the power-play goal.
The Pirates took the lead at the 4:29 mark when Rocco Grimaldi (11) lit the lamp from Brickley and Wade Megan.
Mouillierat beat Mike McKenna 1:49 after Grimaldi’s goal to forge a 2-2 tie. Will O’Neill and Simon were credited with the assists.
After overtime failed to produce a winner, Simon and Mouillierat scored in the shootout, while Grimaldi and Rob Schremp came up empty for Portland.
McKenna finished with 38 saves in the losing effort. Winner Matt Murphy made 32 stops to post the win for the Baby Penguins.
Pirates 4, Falcons 2
Portland quickly righted the ship after Saturday night’s loss with a Sunday afternoon win over visiting Springfield.
Wade Megan (8) notched yet another shorthanded goal 7:04 into the first period to open the scoring.
Springfield’s Eric Selleck scored 2:16 into the second frame to even the game, with the lone assist credited to Ross Mauermann.
Connor Brickley (4) snapped the tie with an even-strength goal, from Brett Olson and Cameron Gaunce, 71 seconds into the third period.
Rocco Grimaldi (12) added to the lead with a power-play goal at the 7:58 mark. MacKenzie Weegar and Dylan Olsen drew the helpers on the eventual game-winner.
Laurent Dauphin set up Jordan Szwarz for shorthanded goal to pull the Falcons back with one at 10:59.
Grimaldi (13) bagged his second of the afternoon, scoring into an empty net with 1:05 remaining to put game away. Chase Balisy and Olsen collected the helpers.
Mike McKenna got the win, finishing with 24 saves. A busy Josh Robinson took the loss, turning away 38 of the 41 shots he faced.
Portland (31-20-2-1) is off until Friday when they take on the Syracuse Crunch on home ice.