After winning the first three of a seven-game road trip, the Portland Pirates were dumped 5-2 by the Utica Comets Wednesday night at Memorial Auditorium.
The Comets got first period goals from Joseph LaBate and Chris Higgins, and Alexandre Grenier scored a second period marker as Utica built an insurmountable 3-0 lead.
Wade Megan (7) pulled one back for the Pirates with a shorthanded tally 6:52 into the third period. It was Megan's third shorthanded goal of the season, tying him for the AHL lead with five other players.