What: American Hockey LeagueWhen: 7:05 p.m, Tuesday
Where: Alfond Arena, University of Maine, Orono
PORTLAND (14-10-1-1, 4th place in Atlantic Division): Winners of 2 in a row heading into Friday night's game at Manchester, the first of 4 in a 5-day span, the Pirates are just 5-5 in their last 10 outings as they battle a roster in flux. Geoff Platt and Bruno St. Jacques were both recently recalled to parent Anaheim, other players have been traded in unrelated deals, and injuries have taken their toll. Andrew Ebbett's 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists) pace the team, but the defense has been good. Only Providence has allowed fewer goals in the division. Both active-roster goaltenders Mike McKenna and Gerald Coleman have save percentages at .900 or better with goals against averages below 2.90.
MANCHESTER (10-11-2-1, 5th in Atlantic Division): Teddy Purcell shocked the Maine hockey community when he left Orono after his freshman season, but he's shining in the professional game as a playmaker. He leads the Monarchs with 8-25--33 totals, and the 25 assists are tops in the league through Thursday. Manchester has 3 players among the league's top-18 in scoring, but the team doesn't have much balance. Only 5 teams in the Eastern Conference have scored fewer goals.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: The game is the first home game in the 15-year history of the Portland franchise to be played away from the Cumberland County Civic Center, and it marks a homecoming for people on both benches. In addition to Pirates defenseman and alternate captain Eric Weinrich, Manchester assistant coach Scott Pellerin was a Hobey Baker Award winner at Maine in 1992, and last year's Hockey East Rookie of the Year while at Maine, Purcell, plays for the Monarchs and led the AHL in scoring entering the weekend.
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