NASHUA, N.H. — The Portland Pirates looked like a team with a lot of work to do Tuesday night.
The Manchester Monarchs, taking advantage of some sloppy play, beat the Pirates 5-2 in an exhibition game at Conway Arena.
It was the only preseason game for the two American Hockey League teams.
The Monarchs will play the Pirates in the season opener Saturday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
“We’re going to have to do a little work in the next two or three days, and get some real comfort on how we want to play the game,” Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said.
The Pirates held an 18-4 edge in shots during the first period, but couldn’t beat goalie Jeff Zatkoff.
“I wasn’t displeased with the way we played (in the first period),” Dineen said. “They had four shots on net. They really had only two real good chances, and both of them ended up in our net, so there’s your positive.”
Bud Holloway, who scored all four winning goals in the Monarchs’ sweep of the Pirates in the first round of the playoffs last spring, scored on a breakaway to help Manchester earn its 2-0 lead in the first period.
David Meckler, one of 13 returning players in the Monarchs’ lineup, also scored on a breakaway.
Zatkoff, who served mainly as the backup to former Lewiston Maineiac Jonathan Bernier last season, stopped all 20 shots during his 30 minutes in net.
Manchester put the game out of reach during the first 10 minutes of the second period when Thomas Hickey, Justin Azevedo and Corey Elkins scored to make it 5-0.
Each spent last season with the Monarchs, who played in the Eastern Conference finals.
Rookie Luke Adam and Mark Mancari, the Pirates’ leading scorer the past two seasons, scored third-period goals for Portland.
“I liked that some players answered the challenge,” Dineen said. “Right now, there is a lack of job security or a job opportunity. However you want to look at it, there are guys who are really fighting for jobs. I made them aware of that during the second and third periods, and a couple of individuals I thought did a really good job of trying to make a statement to us as a coaching staff that they want to be a part of the hockey team.”
NOTE: Portland signed right wing Mark Parrish, a veteran of nine NHL seasons, who was released from a tryout last Saturday by the Buffalo Sabres. He’s expected to arrive in Maine before the opener.
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com
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