Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Devils Fall to Pirates in Home Finale, 3-0
Frank Doyle makes 30 saves in loss

LOWELL, MA - The Lowell Devils could not overcome a 35-save performance by Portland goalie Mike McKenna as they fell in their home finale to the Pirates, 3-0, on Wednesday at the Tsongas Arena. 

Pirates’ right wing Mike Hoffman led his team’s offense with two goals on the night and opened the scoring with 37.8 seconds left until the first intermission.  Stationed behind the net, Stephen Dixon fed a backhand pass to the near post that a cutting Hoffman tapped past Frank Doyle. 

Then with Portland up 2-0 in the final frame, Hoffman put the nail in the coffin 1:34 into the period, intercepting a pass at the Devils’ blueline and sniping a wrist shot into the top corner.

The Pirates gave themselves two-goal cushion at 6:57 of the second with their lone power play marker of the contest.  A bouncing puck was picked up in the slot by a wide-open Michal Birner and quickly sent over the glove of Doyle.

McKenna earned his third shutout of the season, stopping all 35 shots he faced.  Doyle turned away 30-of-33 for third straight game of 30-plus saves. 

The Devils were 0-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

The Lowell Devils will finish the regular season with three games on the road.  They will take the ice on Friday, April 11 against the Bridgeport Tigers at 7:30 p.m. before visiting the Worcester Sharks on Saturday, April 12 at 7:05 p.m.  The Devils complete their three-day, three-game weekend and the 2007-08 campaign on Sunday, April 13 at 4:05 p.m. versus the Providence Bruins.  Tune into WCAP-980AM to hear Ryan Johnston bring you all of the live play-by-play action. 

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