The Picton Pirates could have used a goal here or a goal there this weekend and the local Provincial Junior Hockey league outfit might have added and another point to their 2019-20 total.

But the locals will have to be satisfied with a .500 record over three games this weekend.

The Pirates picked up a 3-3 tie against visiting Gananoque on Thursday before losing to Uxbridge 6-5 on Saturday night. Staring down a potentially dismal three game run prior to hosting the Little Britain Merchants on Sunday, Picton righted the ship and picked up a 6-4 win.

The victory moved the Pirates record to 5-6-1, good enough for fourth place in the PJHL’s Tod Division, two points clear of the Port Hope Panthers but the fifth place club has a pair of games in hand against the Bucs.

On Thursday, Picton could have really used a win over the second place Islanders who were visiting Huff Estates arena for the first time this season. After a scoreless first, Jack Dow would spring Matt Poole at 1:44 to put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the second.

The Pirates added to their output later in the period as Tristan Cowan would beat Islander netminder Jeremy Piazzi at 6:05 to make it a 2-0 Picton lead.

The lead was carved in half about six minutes later as Harry Sanders converted on an Isles powerplay to make it 2-1. A young squad this season when compared to other Tod division opponents, Picton’s lack of experience showed in the third as Ben Look and Roman Cannell would score unassisted goals two minutes apart at the midway point of the third period to push the visitors ahead 3-2.

Picton’s Derrick Vos would light the lamp with under four minutes to go thanks to a nice set up by captain Will Harrison to make t a 3-3 game. It was a nice send off moment for Vos as the Deseronto native and second year Pirate was in a Picton uniform for likely the last time this season. This weekend, the club announced Vos was being promoted to the Jr. A Wellington Dukes on a full time basis.

Both sides would have chances in the extra session but Piazzi and Picton starter Eric Tessier were spectacular, both making 15 stops a piece.

On Friday in Bear country, Picton couldn’t shake a tough start by Pirates netminder Brennan Bush and it wound up costing them. Nick Kyte’s powerplay goal off a Khaden Henry feed midway through the first period was sandwiched by three Uxbridge goals as the Bruins took a 3-1 lead to the final moments of the first. Griffen Conger would strike for Picton on the powerplay late in the first to make it a 3-2 game.

Josh Cammalleri would score at the 2:27 mark of the second to get the score to 4-2. An unassisted effort by Harrison just over two minutes later would get the Pirates back into the contest but an unassisted effort by Uxbridge’s Adam Turner would spell the end of Bush’s night.

The teams continued to trade goals as Kurtis Wood’s second of the campaign made it 5-4 Picton but a goal just 13 seconds later by Matt Hunter of Uxbridge put the Bruins back up a pair. Henry would tally for Picton in the very late going of the third to make it a 6-5 final.

On Sunday, Picton was paced thanks to a Henry hat trick as they dropped visiting Little Britain 6-4.

The teams traded goals in the first as Conger and Harrison both tallied thanks to set ups by Henry. Little Britain’s Owen Smith would give the Merchants their third lead of the game early in the second but a pair off the stick of Henry saw Picton leading 4-3 after 40. Jack Dow’s tally at the 10:15 mark of the third would stand as the eventual game winner. Garret Jukes got the Merchants to within a goal in the final stanza but Henry’s third of the night into a yawning Little Britain cage with a second left gave the Belleville native his first junior hat trick and eighth point of the weekend.

Picton’s next home action is Sat., Nov. 2 against the Napanee Raiders.