Back to back games are hard on the legs. Providence got it’s revenge from 2 nights earlier by a 3-2 margin.  Both sides took little time scoring as Bourque gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead 36 secs into the game. Less than a minute later Bolduc tied it back up 1-1 and the Pirates even took the lead 6 minutes later with a Klinkhammer one timer on the power play. That would be all the scoring for the Pirates as Providence tied it on a Bartkowski goal late in the opening period. Neither team would score until Whitfield put in the game winner late in the third period for Providence as they sent home Portland unhappy, but almost 9,000 of their home fans happy. Pirates goalie Johnson gave up 3 goals on 27 shots.

Ah what a difference a day makes. Tired legs? No problem as the Pirates edged Bridgeport 2-1 on another excellent performance in goal by Mark Visentin. He stopped 39 of 40 shots on goal. Standing on his head was an understatement. All of the scoring occurred in the opening stanza as Bolduc opened up the score sheet with his team high 16th goal of the season just over 7 minutes in from Summers and Rundblad; followed by Andy Miele and a power play goal that would be the game winner late in the first from Stone and Shinnimin.  The Tigers answered with a goal late in the same period but no more scoring after that. A few fights highlighted the night and the home crowd of 5,000 got their money’s worth. Nothing like an old fashion rumble to get the juices flowing eh?

Pirates take on Worcester tomorrow night in front of the home crowd then a back to back this weekend.

Link below of fight seen in pic above.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151338257491310&set=vb.837281309&type=2&theater

Chad Nehring, a 25-year-old product of Saskatchewan scored 4 goals in 23 minutes to lead the Sundogs attack as Arizona blazed the Blaze. Derek LeBlanc scored 37 seconds into the game and it was all downhill from there. Brown stopped 27 of 29 shots to get the win. Stat sheet overflowed with points this night which included 8 players with assists. All scoring occurred in the first two periods as both sides cooled after a ton of penalty minutes which will happen in a one sided blowout. Sundogs hope the fireworks continue as they face the same team days later in Prescott.

Coyotes prospect Mike Lee stopped 42 of 43 shots as the Gwinnett Gladiators crushed the Evansville IceMen for 3-1 snow cone on New Year’s Eve, Monday night at the Ford Center. Tyler Murovich scored 22 seconds in the first period as well as 39 seconds into the second period, which was the difference this night for Gwinnett.  Scott Arnold added the third goal in the third period as this game was never really close. Murovich a Pittsburgh product had a fantastic two on one rush that resulted in a wrister past the Evansville goalie. The Gladiators start 2013 in Fort Wayne, as they take on the Komets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Portland defeated Connecticut 4-3 in a shootout to end 2012. Goal scorers included Chris Summer, Mathieu Brodeur, Ethan Werek, and Jordan Szwarz. The other Chad Johnson stopped 32 of 35 shots to get the win. The Whale had a whale of a time sprinting out to a 3 – 0 lead. Just when they were making their party plans, the Pirates boarded their ship and harpooned that whale with 4 unanswered goals to erase the 3 goal deficit. Next up Portland will have a home and home date with Providence.

All and all it was a pretty good last day of 2012 for the Coyotes affiliates.