This nine day break for the Pirates couldn’t get here quick enough as the start of the season has not begun as hope. Since day one, the Pirates have been playing catch up both figuratively and literally.

The Pirates have started the year with a 3-5-0-1 record and currently sit in fifth place in AHL’s Atlantic Division, a spot no one expected when the season started.

Pirates’ coach Ray Edwards made that point explicitly clear after Friday’s 5-2 loss to Manchester, a fourth straight loss on Civic Center ice.

“It’s disappointing that we responded that way on home ice, he said. “We’ve lost four games at home. That’s ridiculous. That’s not acceptable.”

Portland hopes a familiar face will help the team’s woes as they Coyotes re-acquired Brett MacLean through waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

The Jets claimed MacLean on waivers from the Coyotes back on Oct. 5 just prior to the start of the season for the Pirates. MacLean was actually in Portland practicing with the team when he was claimed.

He recorded a pair of assists in five games with the Jets and had been a healthy scratch the last couple of games.

MacLean’s offensively ability should help the Pirates get out their funk. He spent last season in San Antonio, scoring 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in 51 games.