PORTLAND – The Buffalo Sabres called up leading scorer Mark Mancari Saturday but it didn’t slow down the Portland Pirates.
Clicking for a season-high five power-play goals, the Pirates rolled to an 8-3 win against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers before a crowd of 5,269 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Paul Byron, Colin Stuart and rookie Luke Adam each scored two goals as Portland reeled off its 20th win in 29 home games.
“I think we gave our fans their money’s worth,” Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said. “Tonight, there was entertaining offense. I thought we had good control of the puck and, obviously, had some very good finish.”
Mancari was called up after Mike Grier was injured during the third period while the Sabres rallied to a 5-3 win against the Flyers in Philadelphia.
“Obviously, Mancari is a huge part of this team, especially offensively, but that’s what makes this such a strong team,” Stuart said.
“When guys get hurt or guys get called up, guys step in and do the work. I just think it’s a good team atmosphere here. We stick together as a group, no matter what.”
Mancari’s call-up came 24 hours after the Sabres called up Jhonas Enroth, Portland’s starting goalie, for the third time this season.
David Leggio, making his first start since giving up four goals Feb. 19 during a 5-4 loss at Manchester, made 24 saves to run his season record to a 16-4-0-2.
“When an opportunity rises, it’s important (Leggio) arises to the occasion,” Dineen said.
The Pirates took the lead for good when Byron snapped a 1-1 tie nine minutes into the second period by flashing down the right side past two defensemen and sticking a backhander past goalie Mikko Koskinen for his 17th goal of the season.
Less than 30 seconds later, Adam put in a rebound tom make it 3-1.
Less than 11 minutes into the second period, while the Pirates skated with a 4-3 advantage, defenseman T.J. Brennan put in a shot from the top of the slot for his 12th goal for a 4-1 lead. It was his seventh goal in 11 games.
After David Ullstrom scored his team-high 13th goal with a second left on a power play to make it 4-2, Stuart scored Portland’s third power-play goal of the game on a shot from the right circle with less than four minutes left in the second.
Rhett Rahkshani scored a power-play goal 41 seconds into the third period as Bridgeport again closed to within two goals of the Pirates. But that was it.
Stuart, Adam and Derek Whitmore scored goals during the final 18 minutes as the Pirates scored eight goals in a game for the second time this season.
“In the middle of the game, we started playing their game a little bit,” Stuart said. “We got sloppy.
“Down the stretch, we got back to our kind of hockey. Puck control. Making smart plays, and that’s the difference.”
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com
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