Devils climb all the way back but lose in SO, 6-5
January 27, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
TRENTON, NJ (January 27, 2008) - The Trenton Devils fought back from a three-goal deficit to force the extra frame, only to drop in the shootout contest to the Wheeling Nailers 6-5. A spectacular night of goal scoring by both squads was capped off by Benoit Mondou's hat trick, the last tally of which equalized the game with less than three minutes to play.
Wheeling jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, when Sean Collins and Seamus Young scored within two minutes of each other. The Devils could not find the back of the net on three extra-man chances in the frame, but would turn that stat around in the second period.
Mondou scored his first of three goals-all on the power play-1:21 into the second period. Mondou took a feed from Jason Bonsignore in the slot and squeaked a wrister between goaltender Martin Houle's legs to put Trenton on the board.
After two more scores by Wheeling gave the Nailers a 4-1 lead, the Devils would respond with two goals in 20 seconds. Jason Paige converted a Matt Cohen pass into a breakaway and fired the puck into the top corner for his fourth goal of the season.
ECHL All-Star Ryan Gunderson would then put the Devils within one after a scramble in front of the net saw the puck trickle past Houle. But the one-goal deficit did not last long. With 44 seconds remaining in the frame, Kevin Croxton added his second goal to give Wheeling a 5-3 lead into second intermission.
The Devils took command in the third period on two power play goals by Mondou to complete the hat trick and force overtime. He skated into the slot untouched and blasted a wrister past the short side of the goalie.
The tying goal by Mondou came with 2:45 to go as the Quebec native rifled a shot to the exact top right corner to send the hats flying at Sovereign Bank Arena.
After the teams played to a draw in overtime, Aaron Clarke gave Wheeling the win in the sixth round of the shootout. Gunderson and Bonsignore scored in the contest, but three Nailers, including Clarke, found the back of the net as well.
In addition to Mondou, three other Devils recorded multiple points. Gunderson had a goal and an assist, Jay Pemberton had two helpers, and Bonsignore had a three point game, setting up all three Mondou goals.
Dave Caruso made 30 saves on 35 shots, while Houle stopped 45 of Trenton's 50 attempts for the win. The Devils went 3 of 7 on the power play after going 0-7 last night.
The Trenton Devils continue their homestand when they welcome the Elmira Jackals at Sovereign Bank Arena Friday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tune into WTSR 91.3 or go online to www.trentondevils.com and listen or watch live courtesy of B2 Networks.
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