A Checkered Loss in Charlotte, 4-3
March 20, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Charlotte, NC - The Checkers utilized their ten power play opportunities, including a five-on-three score late in the third period, to defeat Trenton, 4-3, Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Devils never led in their 28th one-goal game of the season, despite recovering from deficits of 1-0 and 3-2. Both times Trenton managed to tie the game, offensive momentum stalled thanks to untimely penalties. The loss puts the Devils four points behind Reading for the last playoff spot after a 6-2 Royals win in Elmira Friday night.
Trenton served twice as many penalty minutes as did Charlotte, not only giving the Checkers more chances to score, but also short-circuiting efforts to shift the offense in gear. Unbeaten in eight games, including road wins in the previous two nights, Charlotte's patient brand of hockey drew the Devils into the first four penalties of the game. Trevor Kell was called for roughing in his defense of goalie Dave Caruso, which led to Aaron Slattengren's fifth goal of the season at 6:02, with Andrew Carroll assisting, for a 1-0 Charlotte lead.
A quick response from Jack Combs tied the game, 1-1, 38 seconds later. Combs and Matt Vokes battled with two Checkers in the right wing corner until Combs pulled the puck away and beelined for the right post and stuffed in under goalie Ryan Munce for his 22nd goal of the season. Forced to kill off three more penalties in the first, Trenton managed only nine shots in the period. Carroll put the Checkers back on top later in the first. With the finals seconds of Justin Coutu's boarding minor running off, former Johnstown Chief Trevor Hendrikx took a pass from Michel Leveille in the slot and fired on net. Caruso stopped that chance but Carroll forced the rebound past Caruso for his team-leading 25th goal of the season at 16:39 for a 2-1 lead.
An insurance goal from Matt Stefanishion gave the Checkers some breathing room at 7:17 of a choppy second period. A turnover on the Devils breakout led to a penalty-shot-like breakaway for the former Ferris State Bulldog, who made a quick backhand to forehand deke to beat Caruso unassisted. Tempers began to flare shortly thereafter and Chris Murray, who played for Charlotte last season, seemed to be at the center of multiple scuffles, including a fight with Hendrikx.
Less than two minutes after the fight, a semi-breakaway led by Chris Poli got the Devils going again. Poli patiently dished to a trailing Slavomir Tomko in the low slot, who drew Munce's attention and passed back to the right for Poli who had a gaping net for the goal. The former Brown Bear's first of two points on the night give him nine in a four-game streak.
More good passing got the game tied for the Devils in the third on a play started by Poli at center. The centerman found Dan Charleston going down the right-wing boards. Charleston slid between the defense and the rail and charged toward the circle, then flipping a backhand pass to Dan Eves who was crashing the net. Eves flicked it under Munce for his 17th of the season and a 3-3 game with nine minutes to play.
More disputed penalties late in the third, including a trip against Charleston and a four-minute high stick against Vokes, put the Checkers in prime position to retake the lead. A quick series of passes at the points between Leveille and Stefanishion crossed up the Trenton penalty killers and Stefanishion finally blasted a one-timer from the left side that beat Caruso at 13:07 for the go-ahead score. Though the Devils mustered 15 shots in the final stanza, a Tim Kunes elbowing penalty in the final moments cost Trenton a third comeback.
The Devils (28-27-4-5, 65pts) next travel to Gwinnett (28-28-4-3, 63pts) for meetings Saturday at 7:05 and Sunday at 4:05.
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