The Portland Pirates jumped out to a three-goal lead before holding on to beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by a 4-2 count Sunday in Allentown, PA. The win ended Portland’s eight-game (0-4-3-1) losing streak.
The Pirates cashed in on an early power play to take the lead 2:57 into the action. Shane Harper (9) got the goal, with the assists going to Kyle Rau and Cameron Gaunce.
Wayne Simpson (4) lit the lamp, from Corban Knight and Rob Schremp, at the 9:02 mark to put the Pirates up by two.
Harper set up Rocco Grimaldi (16) at 1:17 of the second period for the eventual game-winner.
Adam Comrie beat Mike McKenna at 12:16 to get the Phantoms on the board.
Lehigh Valley’s Chris Conner struck with 1:29 left in regulation to cut the deficit to one before Simpson (5) iced the game with an unassisted empty-net goal 22 seconds later.
McKenna finished with 28 saves to post his 26th win of the season. Journeyman Jason LaBarbera stopped 20 shots for the Phantoms.
Portland (32-24-5-2) will return home to face the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday night.