WILKES-BARRE, PA – Coming off a win at Worcester, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins returned to Wachova Arena to host the Portland Pirates, who were coming off a loss. 
This was the first of two meetings between the teams and after the game the Pirates were hoping the next game would be better. The game marred with fights and penalties, started out evenly matched with both teams enjoying good puck movement and possession in the offensive zone.
The back-and-forth lasted until the 12:38 mark of the first period, when Brian Strait opened the scoring for the Penguins with his first AHL goal. The Penguins would add one more from r ookie Keven Veilleux who notched his second goal of the year, backhanding the puck past Pirates’ goaltender J.P. Lamoureux on the power play. The first fight of the night would involve most of the players on the ice. The total penalties in the first period were eleven.
The second period saw the Pens scoring just twenty seconds into the period when Luca Caputi netted his fifth of the year on the power play. The Pirates played tough and determined hockey but weren’t able to get the puck out of their zone most of the night. But they weren’t without chances. Portland had a goal disallowed after a review by the referee and goal judge. The Pirates had some nice shots on goal, but Penguins goaltender John Curry kept the puck out of the net. The fights in this period were mere seconds apart.
The third period saw more of the same from the Penguins; they started the period on a four-on-three power play. The game had a total of 29 penalties and eight fights. The Penguins were able to dominate despite their penalties and would score twice more, with goals from Chris Lee and Zach Sill. The Pirates finally scored on their 26th shot, after Mark Mancari sent a shot from the right corner which bounced off Curry’s right pad and in. The Penguins’ Eric Tangradi scored late to cap off the scoring for the game.
The Penguins, whose offense had been struggling, finally found their way for the night. Portland will look to rebound from a tough loss in which they had their chances, when they take on Rochester tonight.
The Penguins, on a two-game winning streak, will look to continue their winning ways Friday in Albany.
Contact john.merchlinsky@prohockeynews.com
Contat the photographer at angie.merchlinsky@prohockeynews.com
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