Portland, Maine - Tim Brent scored two goals and Nathan Marsters made 25 saves in his AHL debut to lead the Pirates to a 4-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Brent started the scoring early with the first of his two goals just 3:51 into the game. With the extra-attacker on the ice for Portland after a delayed penalty was called, Brent put the puck past River Rats goaltender Ari Ahonen. Kent Huskins and Simon Ferguson were awarded assists on the goal.

Less then two minutes after the Pirates scored, the River Rats got on the board as Ryan Murphy received a pass from Cam Janssen and beat Marsters to knot up the score at one.

Pirates forward Simon Ferguson was able to break the tie and pick up his first career AHL goal with 2:27 left in the first period as he beat Ahonen to the far side of the cage.

Albany was able to close the gap less then two minutes later when Bobby Allen notched a power play goal for the River Rats. Forwards Ilkka Pikkarainen and Ahren Nittel picked up helpers on the goal.

After a scoreless second period and 8:15 into the third, Zenon Konopka scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal. The goal extended Konopka’s consecutive point streak to four games. Shane O’Brien and Ryan Shannon were credited with the assists. The assist for Shannon also extended his point scoring streak to four games.

The Pirates would pick up an insurance goal with the River Rats goalie pulled and just 54 seconds left to play. Tim Brent skated with the puck past the center ice line and shot the puck into the empty net to give him his second goal of the game and the Pirates a 4-2 lead they would keep until the final horn.

The Pirates next game will be on the road this Saturday as they visit the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:05 p.m. The Pirates will then return home on Sunday as they host the Lowell Lock Monsters at 4:05 p.m. Sunday will be the first of several “Skate with the Team” Promotions. Fans are invited to bring their skates and join the Pirates on the ice after the game.

-from PortlandPirates.com