Chiefs Earn Redemption In Trenton 2-1
December 30, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Trenton, NJ, December 30, 2009 - The Johnstown Chiefs snapped their nine-game losing streak Wednesday night, winning 2-1 in Trenton thanks in large part to goaltender John Murray, who was making only his fifth appearance of the year. Murray prevailed in a spectacular goaltending duel with Trenton's Dave Caruso, both stopping over 30 shots, but the Chiefs netminder garnered first star honors and picked up his first victory of the season. The win also ended Johnstown's three game losing streak against the T-Devils.
The Chiefs drew first blood early, scoring just 1:34 into the opening frame when Justin McCutcheon corralled the rebound of a Tim Branham shot and tucked the puck behind the outstretched pad of Caruso. Midway through the first, with Kory Nagy and Justin Coutu in the penalty box, Caruso came up with a slew of saves to help kill off an extended five-on-three power play. Caruso continued his solid effort into the second, stopping a Johnstown breakaway in the opening minutes, but hard luck would again fall the former Ohio State Buckeye. Johnstown center Matthew Myers threw a centering pass out of the left wing corner toward the slot that deflected off a Devils player and through the legs of Caruso to increase the Johnstown lead to 2-0 at 3:06.
After sending the Devils a man down just minutes earlier with a hooking penalty, Trenton forward Jack Combs redeemed himself by pulling the T-Devils to within a goal when he netted his fourth tally of the season. The play began when Trenton interrupted a Chiefs breakout and Matt Vokes stealing the puck at the left-wing blue line. He started toward the net with Combs, but lost control of the puck on the two-on-one rush. Combs found himself in the crease with the loose puck within reach, and his beautiful forehand to backhand deke with under a minute remaining in the second got the Devils within 2-1.
Fans were treated to frantic end-to-end action in the third period, which saw Trenton produce a flurry of quality chances. However, the Devils couldn't seem to crack Murray, whose Chiefs hadn't won on the road since November 29. Five minutes into the third, Ryan Ginand had what looked to be a sure game-tying goal but was unable to lift the puck over the right pad of a sprawling Murray.Chris Poli suffered a similar fate on a trio of chances throughout the third. Murray robbed Poli from in close on two occasions with a split save and a pad save, and Poli had another golden opportunity with eight minutes left in the game. The puck caromed off the end-boards right onto Poli's stick, but he shanked the shot wide of the gaping net.
Not to be outdone, Caruso stopped Connor Shields on the doorstep moments later and also turned aside a bid from in close by Chanse Fitzpatrick. A Greg Gallagher boarding penalty resulted in a Devils power play late in the third, but it was Johnstown who had the better of the scoring chances. Caruso faced a shorthanded breakaway by Dan Collins, making a brilliant save to give the Devils hope, and Caruso was tested again less than a minute later, coming up huge with a wonderful poke check on a Johnstown semi-breakaway.
Caruso headed to the Devils bench with two minutes left in the game to give the Devils an extended opportunity to knot the score late, but Murray shut the door, handing the Devils their second consecutive loss, sealing a winless December at SunCenter for the home team.The Devils look for a fresh start in 2010 when they travel to Elmira, NY for a New Year's Day matchup against the Jackals at 7:35 p.m before heading back home to take on the Wheeling Nailers in Trenton Saturday night.
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