LEWISTON — Todd Ford made a memorable debut for the Portland Pirates as they bid adieu Sunday afternoon to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
Ford, who joined the Pirates a week earlier after starting goalie Jhonas Enroth sustained an injury to his left leg, made 36 saves to help Portland eke out a 2-1 win against the Manchester Monarchs in what was likely its last game in Lewiston.
“I think he played a whale of a game,” Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said of Ford. “I was disappointed he didn’t get that shutout. He really played a solid game for us.”
Oscar Mueller spoiled Ford’s bid for a shutout when he put in a shot from the slot for a power play with 6.5 seconds remaining, after Manchester goalie Jonathan Bernier had been pulled in favor of a sixth skater.
“We’re glad to get the win, and that’s the most important thing, right now,” said Ford, who was called up from the ECHL’s Carolina Stingrays. “We came real close to shutting them out, but (getting) the two points is the main thing.”
It was only the 27th AHL start in six professional seasons for Ford, 26, who played 12 games for the Texas Stars earlier this season.
“You’ve got to know your role when you come up here,” he said. “It’s kind of a backup duty, where you might play every once and a while. You’ve just got to be prepared for every situation.”
J.P. Lamoureux started the previous four games for the Pirates, who will play all 40 of their home games at the Cumberland County Civic Center the next two seasons under their new lease. Portland has played two home games in Lewiston each of the last two seasons.
Portland has won seven of nine games this season against Manchester, including the last six in a row. The teams play one more time in the final game of the regular season April 9 at Manchester.
“We had a 6-1 win (over Manchester) at home, but most of the games have been by one goal,” Dineen said. “I guess it’s appropriate they scored one with six seconds left because our games have had a real competitive edge to them.”
Manchester held a 37-21 edge in shots, but Mark Mancari scored two power-play goals to provide all the offense Portland needed.
While the Pirates skated with a two-man advantage, Mancari put in a blast from center point 9:31 into the second period. He jammed in his team-high 25th goal to make it 2-0 with less than nine minutes left in the third.
The Pirates finished the game with just 16 skaters. Dennis Persson, who skated at left wing and on defense in some early shifts, became ill later in the first period and was unavailable the rest of the game.
Jeff Cowan, a veteran forward, didn’t return to the ice after taking a stick to the face with about 10 minutes left.
NOTES: Sunday’s attendance was 3,074. … Season tickets for the 2010-11 season are on sale. For more information, call 828-4664 ext. 350 or visit www.portlandpirates.com.
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com
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