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Portland’s three-game winning streak snapped in Albany

The Portland Pirates (3-2) entered Albany Saturday night looking for its first road win of the season. Instead, the Devils handed them a 3-1 loss to snap Portland’s three-game winning streak.

After a scoreless first period, Albany forward Reid Boucher beat Sam Brittain to put the Devils on top at the 9:10 mark with Mike Sislo drawing the only helper.

Blake Pietila scored for the second straight game with 2:24 remaining in the frame to give the home side a two-goal advantage. Assists were awarded to defensemen Seth Helgeson and Marc-Andre Gragnani.

Jim O’Brien notched a power-play marker 4:38 into the third period to extend Albany’s lead to three. The goal was set up by Corey Tropp and Reece Scarlett.

It looked like Devils keeper Yann Danis was going to shut the Pirates out, but Mike Matheson had other ideas, firing in his first professional goal with 2:16 left on the clock.

Rocco Grimaldi, who could be heading to South Florida soon to fill in for Aleksander Barkov, collected his third assist in four games on Matheson’s goal.

Brittain fell to 1-1, finishing with 29 saves. Danis turned away 20 shots for the victorious Devils.

The Pirates are off until Friday’s game against the Bruins in Providence.

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