Springfield, Massachusetts - The Springfield Falcons snapped an 11 game winless streak with a 6-3 win over the Pirates at the MassMutual Center. Tim Kennedy and Mathieu Darche extended point-scoring streaks to five games.

Portland scored first, as Mathieu Darche racked up his 17th goal of the season. Darche moved into the offensive zone on a rush, and tried a pass from the right wing. It was broken up, but the puck bounced right back to Darche. Springfield goaltender Dany Sabourin was already sliding across to play the pass, giving Darche plenty of net to shoot at as he put it home. Darche's tally came 3:38 into the game with Mike Kostka picking up a helper. Darche extended his point streak to five games.

Springfield struck back 7:02 into the game as Taylor Chorney scored his fourth goal of the season from Colin McDonald and Cody Wild. Just 30 seconds later, Paul Baier scored his third goal of the year as he took a drop pass from Felix Schutz and scored on a shot from the right wing. Mike Weber and Schutz picked up assists on the play as Portland regained the lead 2-1.

The lead was short-lived though and the Falcons tied the game once more on Ryan Stone’s 12th goal of the season. The left wing stickhandled into the slot and put a move on Enroth to notch the goal and tie the game at 2. Shane Willis got the only assist at 11:07 of the first period.

The Falcons took their first lead of the game a little over three and a half minutes later when Geoff Paukovich took a pass on the doorstep and jammed it past Enroth for his second goal of the season. The goal came at the 14:43 mark and was assisted by Ryan Stone and Shane Willis.

The Pirates didn't trail for long though, as they tied the game at 3 at the 17:35 mark of the opening frame. Mike Kostka took a right point slap shot and Aaron Slattengren deflected it past Sabourin for his eighth goal of the season. Kostka and Tim Kennedy got assists, as Kennedy extended his point streak to five games.

The second period was much quieter, with Bryan Young getting the only goal. The defensemen took a shot from the left point that appeared to be deflected en route to beating Enroth. Young's first professional goal was assisted by Tyler Spurgeon at the 18:00 mark of the second period. Springfield took a 4-3 lead into the final frame.

The Falcons added to their lead 3:56 into the third period when Sebastien Bisaillon took a shot from the right point that deflected off a Pirate into the net. Bisaillon's fifth goal of the season was unassisted and gave the Falcons a 5-3 lead.

Springfield added an empty netter at the 18:56 mark when Colin McDonald put it home from Viacheslav Trukhno and Dany Sabourin to make the final score 6-3 Falcons.

Portland netminder Jhonas Enroth stopped 30 of 35 shots sent his way and took the loss. Dany Sabourin grabbed his first win of the season, stopping 32 of 35 shots sent his way.

Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game: 1. Bryan Young (SPR) 2. Ryan Stone (SPR) 3. Shane Willis (SPR)

Notes: The Pirates have now played the second of seven straight road games. Mathieu Darche and Tim Kennedy have five game point streaks. Attendance: 2,848.

The Pirates next game is Friday, February 20, 2009 at the Philadelphia Phantoms. 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).