Caruso's 53 Saves Lift Devils To 4-3 Win
December 10, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Duluth, GA, December 9, 2009 - Georgia native Dave Caruso made 53 saves in his splendid homecoming as the Devils beat the Gladiators, 4-3, Wednesday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Trenton halted a four game losing streak, earning its first victory since November 28 vs. Elmira. Trenton held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first two periods, before Gwinnett fought from behind to take a 3-2 lead early in the third. Quick scores midway in the third, spurred by a five-on-three power play, put the Devils back on top 4-3.
Caruso, a native of Roswell, GA, played his first professional season with Gwinnett in the 2006-07 season, but most recently played in Gwinnett Center in his lone game as a Trenton Devil last season, a shootout loss. His return to the greater Atlanta area this year was among his greatest games professionally, stopping all 18 shots in the first period and 18 of 19 in both the second and third. The 27-year-old's statistical feat paints only a partial picture of his performance, as numerous stops were made on low-slot scraps and second chance opportunities within the crease. Caruso improved his season-high-saves mark by 10, having twice made 43 saves earlier this year.
Breakaways generated Trenton's first two goals, the first started on a breakout pass from Brett Wilson to Jeff Prough. As the winger rushed hard down the left side of the ice with Dan Eves to his right, Prough drew the defense but still found a lane to pass across for Eves. Roofing the puck from 15 feet out just under the cross bar, Eves picked up his team-leading eighth goal of the season at 15:25 of the first.
Adam Berti tied the game on an unassisted goal midway through the second, following a failed Devils breakout on a giveaway in front of their own net. Two and a half minutes later the Devils answered back with another quick-rush goal. This time Justin Pender made the breakout pass to the newest Devil, Jack Combs who was recently acquired in a trade with the Alaska Aces. Combs crossed the blue line on the left wing, joined by Trevor Kell coming down the right side. Combs' marvelous pass across met Kell's blade perfectly for the shot past Gwinnett goalie David Brown and a 2-1 Devils lead.
Gwinnett turned up the firepower late in the second period, peppering the goal mouth with a series of angled shots from the wings. Caruso and company made one stop after another, only to have the rebounds get turned outside for a continuous flurry of shooting. Scott Marchesi's shot from the right wing circle was blocked in traffic and the loose puck went across the crease to Pat Galivan who chipped the puck just over Caruso's outstretched right leg to retie the game 2-2 at 18:12. The Gladiators struck again early in the third to take their first lead, 3-2, with Tom Zanoski scoring his team-leading 13th goal 17 seconds into the period.
The Devils tied and took the lead with goals 81 seconds apart midway through the third. A tripping call and a delay of game penalty put the Devils on the two-man advantage, and 43 seconds into Trenton's fourth power play of the game, Jeff Prough banged home his sixth goal of the year on a sharp feed across the slot from Brett Wilson with Dave Leaderer getting a secondary assist. Tony Zancanaro set up the go-ahead tally with a face-off win, drawing the puck back to the left point for Justin Pender who ripped one toward the goal. Matt Vokes got his stick on the puck to help sneak it past Brown for the game-winning goal at 9:39.
Trenton stifled numerous chances for Gwinnett in the last 10 minutes of regulation, but held on for its ninth win of the season. The Devils (9-11-2-2, 22pts) move ahead of Johnstown for sole possession of third place in the East and next travel to Charleston, SC for games against the Stingrays Friday and Saturday nights.
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