Sunday, November 25, 2007

Devils Scuttle Pirates, 4-3
Marshall tallies game-winner and two assists

LOWELL, Mass. - Grant Marshall registered the game-winning power play goal with 3:06 remaining and added two assists to help lead the Lowell Devils to a 4-3 win over the Portland Pirates on Sunday at Tsongas Arena.

After Pirates forward Bobby Ryan tied the score at 3-3 with a nifty backhand move at 12:43 of the final frame, the Devils got a man-advantage and a chance for the go-ahead goal when Brian Salcido headed to the box for hooking at 16:21. 

Lowell’s special teams unit went to work, passing the puck around the zone before it finally came up top to Marshall.  The fourteen-year veteran unleashed a shot from the blueline that rocketed over the shoulder of goaltender Gerald Coleman to put the Devils ahead 4-3.  Jordan Parise – 28 saves in the contest – and the rest of the squad made sure the lead held as Lowell snapped a five game winless streak (0-4-1-0).

Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Devils’ offense got on track with Marshall leading the charge.  He helped get Lowell on the board at 5:55 as he took a 2-on-1 break into the offensive zone, faked a shot that froze Coleman and hit Jason Ryznar for the easy tap-in.  Patrick Davis also got an assist on Ryznar’s second goal this year. 

Almost four minutes later with Lowell up a man, Marshall blasted a slapshot from the point that Coleman got in front of, but Noah Clarke drilled home the rebound to tie the score 2-2.  At 16:16 of the same period, Ryan Murphy gave Lowell its first lead of the game. With the Devils controlling the puck in the Pirates’ end of the ice, Murphy hopped off the bench to accept a pass from behind the net from Petr Vrana and one-timed the puck from the far dot net for his first tally of the season. 
 
Lowell got into some penalty trouble in the first period that led to Portland jumping out 1-0.   After Grant Marshall and Stephen Gionta headed to the penalty box to give the opposition a brief two-man advantage, the Pirates converted on the ensuing 5-on-4 when Salcido’s wrist shot from the point got past a screened Parise. 

Portland made 2-0 just 56 seconds into the second period as Geoff Platt continued his torrid scoring pace.  The Pirate center converted a 3-on-2 rush, kicking a feed from Stephen Dixon to his stick for a snapshot that snuck by Parise’s outstretched glove.   The goal was Platt’s 13th point (5g, 8a) in seven games.  

On Friday, November 30, one lucky fan will win an automatic car starter courtesy of Meineke Care Care of Lowell as the Devils face the Springfield Falcons at 7:05 p.m.   It’s Ladies Night when the Devils battle the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday, December 2 at 4:05 p.m.  All ladies get into the game for $10. Join us for a post-game team autograph session and, after all Sunday home games, fans can participate in a free post-game skate presented by Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union.  Tickets start at just $10; call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com