WEDNESDAYS #6 vs. BOTTOM FEEDERS:

(vol. 28W, no. 6; newsletter by h.s.)
WALL (AP) — A Bruin overtime goal with 1:15 remaining spoiled the return of Craig Sudol and Harris to the Pirate line-up. The score broke a 2-2 gridlock in a game with multiple lead changes.

The game-winning goal came on the first face-off after a Pirate timeout and immediately following a sequence of Pirate pressure deep in the Bruins' zone. The loss dropped the Men In Black to .500 on the season with a 3-3 record.

Sudol, returning from a three weeks on the I.R. after undergoing sinus surgery, showed no signs of his layoff— scoring the first goal of the night on his first shift back. That goal, assisted by Mike Farrell, gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead that they held until the Bruins knotted things up halfway through the opening period.

The Pirates regained the lead 2:00-minutes later when Brian Newcomb, with help from Farrell, capitalized :20 seconds into a powerplay. That 2-1 lead was short lived, however, and the Bruins tied things up on the following shift. The teams went into the break still tied 2-2.

The Bruins scored early in the final frame to take their first lead of the night and they held that one-goal edge deep in the period. Then, with 3:30-remaining Brooks received a pass from Mike and broke down the left-wing. He gunned a slapshot that rippled the twine to tie the game at 3-3.

The Pirates continued the pressure for the final minutes of regulation and into the ensuing overtime, but came just shy of winning it. Brooks had a salvo of slapshots, including one that clanged off the off the crossbar during the 3:00-minute overtime. The Bruins however, won this test of wills in the final :75 seconds and skated away with the two-point victory.

After the game defenseman Mike Farrell, who had an impressive three-point outing, asked whether the additional two Bruin deflections he helped into the Pirate net would count in his stats.
date of game: 1.24.07