Rick Kowalsky, a former Portland Pirate, enjoyed a homecoming of sorts Friday night.

Unfortunately for the current Pirates, it came at their expense.

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Albany’s Graham Black tries to score as Portland’s Francis Wathier and goalie Mike McKenna make the stop in the Pirates’ loss to the Albany Devils on Friday night at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

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WHO: Albany Devils at Portland Pirates

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday

The Albany Devils, coached by Kowalsky, handed the Pirates their second 4-0 shutout of the week Friday night before a crowd of 4,051 at Cross Insurance Arena.

“I really enjoyed my time up here,” said Kowalsky, who played parts of three seasons between 1996 and 1999 with the Pirates. “And the building, even though it’s different, it still has that same atmosphere.”

It was a one-goal game through two periods but the Devils, who had been winless in November, doubled their lead in the opening minute of the third when Reid Boucher won a race to a rebound and knocked it home before Pirates goalie Mike McKenna could recover from making the initial save.

“They beat us up the ice,” said Pirates Coach Ray Edwards. “Not the way you want to start the third period.”

Any chance of the Pirates (7-7) coming back evaporated in a parade of five minor penalties following a failed power play not long after Boucher’s goal. Included in the infractions was a double-minor on Lucas Lessio for high sticking as he was trying to elude a defenseman on his way into the offensive zone.

Alexandre Bolduc also had a high stick penalty and Eric Selleck was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“It was an ugly third,” Edwards said. “We didn’t even give ourselves a chance. You can’t get back in the game if you take five penalties. It’s ridiculous.”

The Pirates lost to Manchester on Tuesday night at CIA by an identical score. They have gone seven periods without a goal.

They had several good chances against Albany goalie Scott Clemmensen, a 37-year-old who opened the season with New Jersey and finished with 31 saves Friday night.

Paul Bissonnette, making his Pirates debut after being sent down from Arizona in late October, intercepted a pass at the blue line early in the second period and snapped a shot that glanced off Clemmensen’s glove before missing wide. Henrik Samuelsson fed Bolduc for an open shot from the high slot. Jordan Martinook had a good look on a backhand.

“We had plenty of chances to score,” Edwards said. “In the first and second period we were out-chancing them (leading 21-16 in shots on goal). We’ve just got to find the back of the net. The execution as far as getting the chances was there, but you’ve got to find a way to put the puck in the net.”

McKenna finished with 32 saves for the Pirates.

Joe Whitney gave Albany a 1-0 lead on a backhander a little over four minutes into the game. A hustling play behind the net by Paul Thompson set up the goal.

The Pirates enjoyed a substantial five-on-three advantage late in the first and early in the second period but failed to convert. They were 0 of 7 on the power play.

“A goal, obviously, would have given them lots of life,” Kowalsky said. “And we just never gave it up. Our guys did a nice job with the penalty kill.”

Boucher’s backbreaking goal came 35 seconds into the third, and the aftermath included two Pirates slumped against the boards. Defenseman James Melindy was able to return later in the game but right wing Jordan Szwarz left for the training room before the period was over.

Neither Szwarz nor Samuelsson, who took a hard check to the head on which Albany’s Mark Fraser was penalized, will be available for Saturday night’s rematch, Edwards said.

Albany made it 3-0 with a little under nine minutes left when Tim Sestito converted his own rebound. Fraser finished off the scoring on a screened shot from the left point with a minute left.

“They needed something to get them going,” Kowalsky said, “and we never really gave them the opportunity.”

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