Portland, Maine – The Portland Pirates picked up a point for the fifth time in eight games in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The Pirates got on the board 5:05 into the first when Tim Kennedy found a rebound loose in front of the net and poked it home for his 14th goal of the season. The tally came on the power play with Marc-Andre Gragnani and Colin Murphy picking up the assists. Portland stretched the lead to 2-0 when Marek Zagrapan ripped a wrister from the left wing off the shoulder of Hartford goaltender Matt Zaba and into the net. Colin Murphy picked up an assist on Zagrapan's 15th goal of the season at 15:14 of the first. The Pirates took a 2-0 lead into the second period.

Early in the second, Portland extended the lead to 3-0 when Pirates captain Tyler Bouck took a pass from Aaron Slattengren and put a shot in the top shelf. Dylan Hunter also earned an assist on Bouck's sixth goal of the year at 1:23 of the second. After two periods, the Pirates had a 3-0 lead and goaltender Jeff Jakaitis had stopped all 24 shots sent his way in his AHL debut.

In the third period, Hartford mounted a comeback effort that began 1:47 into the final frame when Tom Pyatt scored his 14th goal of the season from Mike Ouellette and Tomas Zaborsky. A few minutes later Hartford struck again when Sean Avery ran over goaltender Jeff Jakaitis and poked the puck home for his second goal of the season. David Urquhart and Patrick Rissmiller picked up the assists to pull Hartford to within one. Just 48 seconds later, things were tied after Mike Ouellette snapped a wrister from the left circle into the top shelf at 10:50 of the third. Ouellette's 11th goal of the year was assisted by Zaborski and the two teams headed to overtime tied at three.

In the extra session, neither team scored so they went to shootout. Artem Anisimov scored for the Wolf Pack and Colin Murphy answered for the Pirates. After five Pirates shooters and four tries for the Wolf Pack, it remained tied 1-1. Patrick Rissmiller deked to his backhand and lifted the puck over Jakaitis to end the game with Hartford winning 2-1 in a shootout.

Portland goaltender Jeff Jakaitis made 31 saves on 34 shots in his first AHL start, taking the shootout loss. Hartford goalie Matt Zaba got the win, stopping 29 of 32 shots.

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game: 1. Patrick Rissmiller (HFD) 2. Tyler Bouck (POR) 3. Mike Ouellette (HFD)

Notes: The Pirates have points in five of their last eight. Attendance: 6,982.

The Pirates next game is tomorrow, Sunday, March 1st as the Pirates host the Lowell Devils. Join us for the "Day of Hockey" to benefit the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, presented by the Bill Dodge Auto Group and supported by Haley's Tire and the Cumberland County Civic Center. The day-long event will be presented by the Portland Pirates Foundation, Huskies Youth Hockey, and supported by Haley's Tire and the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Fans can follow the Pirates on U.S. Cellular Pirates Radio Network or watch the game LIVE on the internet courtesy of AHL Live by clicking the icon on the left side of the home page. The U.S. Cellular Pirates Radio Network includes the Pirates flagship station, the Bay 1400AM and 1490AM (Portland) and affiliates WEZR 1240 AM (Lewiston-Auburn), WTME 780AM (Rumford) and WKTQ 1450AM (South Paris).