Anaheim Ducks News: AHL Pirates Tie Conference Finals with Victory

After losing Game 1 of the AHL Eastern Conference finals, the Portland Pirates, the AHL affiliate for the Anaheim Ducks, tied the series at one game apiece after a victory in Game 2 against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Bobby Ryan, who saw ice time in both Portland and Anaheim, scored two goals to lead the Pirates to victory.

The first period ended in a scoreless tie after the Pirates outshot the Penguins 11-4. The Pirates' Brian Salcido blasted a blistering shot from point and Andrew Ebbett redirected a power-play goal past the Penguins' John Curry at 9:49 of the second.

The goal was Ebbett’s third of the playoffs, and was assisted by Salcido and Jason King. It would be the Pirates' first goal and lead of the series.

Thanks to a 4-on-4 opportunity, the Pirates took a two-goal lead at 13:53 off a Bobby Ryan wrist shot on Curry’s low glove side. The goal was Ryan’s sixth of the postseason and was unassisted.

The Penguins tied the game at 17:11 of the second when Nathan Smith beat Portland goaltender J.S. Aubin over the left shoulder. It would be Smith’s fourth goal of the playoffs and was assisted by Luca Caputi and Alain Nasreddine.

At 15:23 of the third period, Bobby Ryan scored his second goal of the night, the eventual game-winner, on a power-play goal through Curry’s five-hole. Ryan leads the Pirates with this, his seventh goal of the playoffs. This power-play goal was assisted by Brian Salcido and Ryan Callahan.

At 17:11, Nathan Smith scored a power-play goal for the Penguins (to leave them only down by one) off a redirected slap shot past Aubin. Smith’s fifth goal of the postseason was assisted by Dave Gove and Alex Goligoski.

Aubin turned away 26 shots to gain the win, with John Curry of Wilkes-Barre turning aside 17 shots in the loss.

Photo: Courtesy of AFC Media via Ducks.nhl.com