enlarge Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Kyle Wanvig of the Portland Pirates heads to the ice courtesy of a check by Springfield’s Theo Peckman. The Falcons rallied for a 2-1 victory Sunday.

enlarge Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Drew Schiestel of the Pirates moves the puck ahead of Colin McDonald of the Falcons. Portland outshot Springfield 19-2 in the third period but could not beat goalie Devan Dubnyk, who finished with 39 saves.

enlarge Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Springfield goalie Devan Dubnyk squares up and blocks a scoring attempt by Portland’s Jeff Cowan during Springfield’s 2-1 victory Sunday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

PORTLAND — The Portland Pirates outplayed the Springfield Falcons everywhere but where it counted Sunday – on the scoreboard.

The Falcons turned two odd-man rushes into second-period goals to eke out a 2-1 victory before a crowd of 3,258 at the Cumberland County Civic Center, keeping the Pirates mired in last place in the AHL Atlantic Division.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk made an impressive 39 saves for Springfield, which has earned at least one point in four of its last five road games to move into a second-place tie in the eight-team division, but that's not why Portland lost the final game of its four-game homestand.

"We took a little time off in the second period, and you can't do that in this league and win games," Portland right wing Kyle Rank said. "You take a couple of shifts off, a bad bounce and maybe a mental lapse, and the puck ends up in the back of our net. I don't know what happens, but it's unacceptable."

Springfield converted two turnovers near the Portland blue line into goals early in the second period to take a lead it never relinquished.

"When you make those kind of mistakes, sometimes you get lucky and nothing happens," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said. "Today, they cost us the hockey game."

Ryan O'Marra tied the game when he finished off a three-on-two break 44 seconds into the second period. At the six-minute mark, right wing Colin McDonald finished off another three-on-two break with his fifth goal to give Springfield the lead.

"There are a few things that came up and hurt us that have been hurting us all year," Dineen said. "It was a quick little snap shot, but enough to cost us the hockey game. Those are the mistakes that stick out on you."

Philip Gogulla, a left wing in his first AHL season, scored his second goal of the season on a shot from the top of the left circle 12:34 into the game to stake the Pirates to an early lead. Rookie Paul Byron, back after a four-game absence because of injury, drew an assist.

With less than four minutes left in the first period, Rank had a chance to add to Portland's lead, but Dubnyk stopped his short-handed shot on a breakaway.

With less than three minutes left in the second, Dubnyk stopped Rank on another short-handed breakaway bid.

"I had two great chances, but you've got to score in this league to win hockey games," Rank said. "He played well, but I thought we had our chances to win the game."

The Pirates, who play three games on the road during the next five days, were all over the Falcons during the third period, holding a 19-2 advantage in shots.

"There was a level of desperation (in the third period) that we have to have," Dineen said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to be a difference maker in the hockey game."

NOTES: Portland center Felix Schutz, who injured his right shoulder Friday night during a fight with Hershey center Gavin Morgan, did not dress for the game. Two former Anaheim Ducks teammates, Portland defenseman Joe DiPenta and Springfield left wing Kip Brennan, fought less than two minutes into the game.

Southern Maine Community College grad Chris Tabb of Sanford is the assistant equipment manager for the Falcons. Right wing Colton Fretter, who spent all of last season with the Pirates, assisted on O'Marra's goal.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com