The Pirates, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, got to practice for the first two times on the ice at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Wednesday and Thursday before leaving on the bus for upstate New York. Veteran defenseman Joe DiPenta will sit out the game in Albany after the AHL suspended him one game for taking a two-fisted swing with his stick at Kip Brennan of Springfield during last Saturday`s opener at the MassMutual Center. He`s expected to be in the lineup for the Pirates` home opener Saturday night. Rookie defenseman Matt Generous could be a week from getting back on the ice. He injured his left calf during training camp in Buffalo last month.

TODAY, 7 p.m.

WHO: Pirates at Albany River Rats

WHERE: Times Union Center

NOTES: Center Stefan Chaput, limited to 15 games with Albany last season because of injury, played three full seasons for the Lewiston Maineiacs. A third-year pro, Jonathan Paiement, another former Maineaic, is back for his second season with the Rats. Albany is the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

SATURDAY, 7 p.m.

WHO: Providence Bruins at Pirates

WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center

NOTES: Goalie Tuukka Rask and defenseman Johhny Boychuk are now playing for the NHL parent Boston Bruins, but Providence has enough threats up front to contend for a second consecutive Atlantic Division championship. Center Trent Whitfield, who played parts of seven seasons for the Pirates, is in his first season with the Bruins after spending the past four seasons in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen.

SUNDAY, 4 p.m.

WHO: Pirates at Lowell Devils

WHERE: Tsongas Arena

NOTES: The Lowell roster includes four former Portland Pirates, including goalies Gerald Coleman and Mike McKenna, veteran defenseman Jay Leach and veteran forward Louie Robitaille. Lowell left wing Erik Castonguay played three seasons for the Lewiston Maineiacs.

RADIO: WLOB 95.5 FM; WTME 780 AM; WEZR 1240 AM; WKTQ 1450 AM

– Paul Betit, Staff Writer