Devils Celebrate New Year with 7-4 Win
January 1, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Elmira, NY - The Devils began the New Year with a season-high scoring output, winning 7-4 at Elmira Friday night. Trenton exploded for three goals in the first period, including two from all-star Jeff Prough. Chris Poli had an assist on Prough's first goal, his seventh assist in his seventh game of the season, but Poli's goal in the second period, his first of the season, eventually won the game for the Devils.
Four Devils registered multiple-point nights, including the first for Ryan Ginand, the game's first star, who scored his second and third goals of the season in his 12th game. Jack Combs also notched two assists and now has four in the last three games. Prough added an assist on Tony Zancanaro's empty netter, marking the third time a Devil has scored three points in a game this season.
Despite mounting a 5-0 lead by 13:50 of the second period, a furious comeback from the Jackals kept the contest at a high intensity level. Justin Donati launched the Jackals back into the game, first assisting on goals from Yannick Tifu and Jarrett Konkle, then scoring twice himself in the third. Those four points put the winger in the American Conference lead for goals, 18, and the ECHL lead in points, 51. Ryan Ginand's second goal of the game at 5:02 of the third helped Trenton sustain the Jackals outburst, and Zancanaro's empty netter sealed it with 39 seconds left in the third.
The scoring fuse was lit by Prough and Poli at 7:50 in the first on a two man rush, just seconds after Jarrett Konkle hit the cross bar at the other end. An ill-advised clearing effort led to Prough's unassisted goal at 11:28, sneaking the puck through Elmira goalie Julien Ellis' five-hole. Ninety seconds later, Justin Pender's high-slot wrister gave the Devils a 3-0 edge, with assists to Andy Thomas and Jack Combs.
At 1:42 of the second Kory Nagy drew a double team in the right-wing corner and nudged the puck to Kyle Kucharski at the side of the goal. Kucharski fed Ginand in the crease and the puck, Ginand and Ellis all ended up in the net for a 4-0 Trenton lead. The Devils' fifth goal came on a power play, and started with Combs working the puck to Matt Vokes at the left-goal line, who then made a sharp pass to the crease for the oncoming Poli who fired it home at 13:50.
Dave Caruso was again sharp in goal, starting back-to-back games for the first time since Trenton played in Gwinnett and South Carolina a month ago. He earned his sixth win of the year, making 32 saves. The Devils (11-15-3-4, 29pts) have now beaten the Jackals (15-13-2-2, 34pts) in five of seven meetings, and are now within five points of second-place Elmira heading into Saturday's contest at home against the Wheeling Nailers (17-15-1-1, 36pts) at 7 p.m.
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