MANCHESTER, N.H. — What. So soon? The Calder Cup playoffs just got here, and already the Portland Pirates are over and done with until next fall?

Indeed, that is the state of things in the wake of Tuesday’s 7-2 season ending loss to the Manchester Monarchs in Game 4 of their Calder Cup playoff clash at Verizon Wireless Arena.

Portland, which worked so doggedly throughout the regular season to secure it’s playoff spot ”“ remember, they were threatening for the Atlantic Division title on the very last weekend of the regular season ”“ was unceremoniously swept out of the post-season by the Monarchs in four straight.

The whole thing took just five days.

“I think we’re all pretty much in shock, right now,” said rugged winger Kyle Rank. “I don’t know what happened between our last game of the year and the playoffs. But as a group, we didn’t get the job done.”

Said Pirates’ team captain Brad Larsen, “It’s just a huge disappointment. I was still believing that when we were down (in the first period) 4-1, we would come back and win this thing. I really did.”

Their best chance to stay alive came during the first period, they they outshot Manchester 22-9, including a lopsided 13-1 margin in the opening 10 minutes.

However, they came away empty handed after unloading that barrage on Monarchs’ goalie Jonathan Bernier, setting the stage for a four-goal Manchester eruption.

“We played hard,” said Larsen, “and we had our opportunities. But we didn’t score. There were some funny bounces. But credit them. It’s not like they didn’t earn their bounces. It’s obviously disheartening when you play a period like we did and you don’t really get anything for your effort.”

Trevor Lewis scored the first two goals, including on just 31 seconds into the second.

Bud Holloway, who scored a goal in all four games for Manchester, followed to make it 3-0.

His total was one less than all of the Pirates put together scored through the entire series.

“We had a tough time cracking that egg, the last four games,” said Portland coach Kevin Dineen. “When you’ve got somebody (Bernier) standing that tall in net, I think that team really feeds off it.”

Portland later crept back into contention after both Nathan Gerbe and Mark Mancari scored to make it 4-2.

However, Manchester scored three times in the final 3:08 to drive a stake through the hearts of the Bucs.

“Unfortunately,” said Dineen, who might have coached his last game for the Pirates (that is, if the NHL’s overtures prove to be to strong for him to resist), “unless you’ve got a ring on your finger, there’s always frustration. A season ends, whether you’ve gone seven games or its a four game sweep. They both have some sting to it. But this one certainly has a different feel to it.”

EMPTY NETTERS: The Pirates’ task was made tougher when rugged winger Cody McCormick was summoned by the parent Buffalo Sabres, just before game time. McCormick’s promotion came as a result of an injury to former Pirate Matt Ellis, Monday, in the Sabres’ 2-1 playoff loss to the Boston Bruins. McCormick’s spot in the Portland lineup was taken by rookie newcomer Jacob Lagace, who was making his professional debut. ”¦ Dineen made a surprise move by starting back up goaltender Todd Ford instead of J.P. Lamoureux. However, Ford was yanked after Holloway’s goal at 12:52 of the second.

— Contact Staff Writer Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.