PORTLAND – Veteran center Matt Ellis had packed his bags for the flight to Philadelphia with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday when he got the word.

“At the end of the day (Wednesday), right before heading to Philly, I was told to pack my bags and come back to Portland,” he said. “At the time, emotionally, it was a little bit tough. I had geared up for what I thought was going to be a challenge for the Stanley Cup with the Sabres.”

Instead, it looks like Ellis is going to help the Portland Pirates try to win the second Calder Cup in the 17-year history of the AHL franchise.

“It’s a tough transition,” Pirates Coach Kevin Dineen said. “It’s the toughest transition maybe in hockey, to go from preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs to starting in the Calder Cup playoffs.”

Ellis, who spent the final three weeks of the regular season playing in the NHL with the Sabres, showed no sign of an emotional letdown Thursday night as he helped the Pirates open their best-of-seven playoff series against the Connecticut Whale with a 3-2 win.

“Once I got on that plane (Wednesday), my focus shifted gears to coming back, getting back into the mix here and getting the playoffs off on the right foot,” said Ellis, a veteran of six NHL seasons.

“The task now is getting ready for Game 2, and that’s where my focus lies for a big game (tonight).”

The teams resume their Atlantic Division semifinal series tonight at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Ellis has served as the Pirates’ captain this season when not in the NHL. He has played 14 games for the Sabres.

“The players here have a large say at how the dressing room is run and the tone of off-ice activities,” Dineen said. “It’s not just talk and making sure things are done off ice. You can do that until the cows come home, but you have to be able to back it up on the ice, and Matty has done that, both offensively and defensively, all season long.”

In 52 games with the Pirates, Ellis has 10 goals and 21 assists.

“No matter what time of the year it is, he’s always playing that playoff hockey, where he’s just grinding it out, playing smart defensively,” said Portland forward Paul Byron, who is in his second AHL season. “He’s always winning board battles and just doing the little things that are so important. It really means a lot to see a guy like that doing it, game in and game out.”

Ellis, 30, doesn’t plan to change his approach.

“At this time of year, the amount of emotion that goes into it can take its toll, but you just have to take it one day at a time,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen. By playing in the moment, that’s how you keep your focus.”

Dineen expects more movement of players between the Sabres and the Pirates as each team continues in the playoffs.

“I personally feel the Sabres are going to have to play a certain style, and they’re going to need the depth we have here to help them achieve their goals,” he said.

“Part of the package here is to make sure we have our players prepared to move on and help this organization to have success.”

NOTES: The Pirates released goaltender Jeff Jakaitis, who won four of his five starts with Portland after he was called up from the Central Hockey League’s Dayton Gems, leaving former Boston College goalie John Muse as backup to David Leggio. … Former University of Denver forward Kyle Ostrow, who went scoreless in five games with the Pirates, was released from his amateur tryout contract. … Dale Darling, who is retiring after serving for 33 years as videographer for the Portland Pirates and Maine Mariners, is scheduled to drop the ceremonial first puck at the start of tonight’s game.

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

pbetit@pressherald.com

 

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