It wasn’t pretty, but the Portland Pirates will take the win.

The Pirates defeated the St. John IceCaps 5-4 in front of 6,287 at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Portland Pirates head coach Ray Edwards said it was a game of each team grabbing momentum throughout game. He was glad to pick up the two points and move onto the third game of the three-game series in St. John’s on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The Pirates opened up the game with a 2-0 lead with goals coming from Brett Hextall and Tobias Rieder.

Hextall notched his sixth of the season with Jordan Martinook setting the play up at the 8:03 mark. Rieder tallied his 10th of the season just past the halfway mark of the opening period with the lone assist going to Brandon McMillan.

St. John’s head coach Keith McCambridge gave the quick hook to goaltender Jussi Olkinuora who made six saves on eight chances in the first 10 minutes of the game. Eddie Pasquale came in relief and made 21 saves.

The IceCaps found the back of the net 1:33 remaining in the first as J.C. Lipon potted his sixth goal of the season with Joel Lowry and Branden Kichton picking up the assists.

St. John’s tied the contest up at two when Will O’Neil found the back of the net for the fourth time of the season 5:55 into the second period. The power-play tally was assisted by Kael Mouillierat and Kris Fredheim.

The Pirates had another run of goals in the second.

Lucas Lessio lit the lamp on the man advantage for his ninth goal of the season with defenseman Daine Todd notching the lone assist with 7:15 remaining in the stanza.

Randy Jones would set up the next two goals.

Mathieu Brisebois notch has first career professional goal on the power play 61 seconds after Lessio goal. Rieder picked up his second point of the night with an assist.

The Pirates were 2-for-6 on the power play while St. John’s was 2-for-7.

Mark Louis notched his first goal of the year with Brandon McMillan picking up his second helper of the year.

Edwards was pleased with the secondary scoring from Brisebois and Louis.

The IceCaps got within one with goals from John Albert and Mouillierat in the first five minutes of the third period.

Louis Domique stopped 34 shots for his fifth victory of the season.

Edwards was pleased with Dominque who stopped a penalty shot in the first period and made a couple other big saves throughout the game game.