Devils Comeback Falls Short
December 6, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Reading, PA - The Royals outlasted the Devils, 3-2, Saturday at Sovereign Center, winning for the fifth time against Trenton in as many meetings this season. Behind 2-0 midway in the second, the Devils twice scratched within a one goal deficit, but the Royals thwarted a complete comeback and held on for their third win in five games, each coming against Trenton.
Reading took the lead on a disputed goal at 11:08 of the first period. Forward Rob LaLonde, returning from a 16 game stint on injured reserve, fired from the left side over goalie Dave Caruso's shoulder. The puck rang off the pipe and came back into play, however, the officials determined the puck had gone into the goal before the ricochet. Olivier Labelle and Dinos Stamoulis notched assists on LaLonde's first goal of the year and the only score in the opening period.
Dan Steiner and Ben Gordon, Reading's top scorers, combined to extend the Royals lead three minutes into the second period. Steiner's sixth goal of the season came on a rush down the right wing, following sharp passing through the neutral zone from Gordon. The blast glanced off Caruso's pad and inside the long post for a 2-0 lead.
Seven minutes later, Trenton got on the board on Tim Kunes' third goal of the season. Trevor Kell controlled the puck despite being double teamed in the left wing corner and found Tony Zancanarobehind the net. A return pass in front to Kell instead was deflected out to Kunes in the right wing circle. He snuck it between netmidner Beau Erickson and the right post and Trenton trailed 2-1.
The Devils penalty kill was put to the test shortly after the offense began to click. Mike Harder's slashing minor at 12:39 and Kory Nagy's tripping infraction at 17:31 gave the Royals a chance to rev up the power play, so when Harder was called for delay of game with one second left on the Nagy penalty, Reading was poised to cash in. The curious penalty call was discussed by the officials amidst rebuke from Trenton, but seven seconds after the penalty time started, the Royals capitalized. Ryan Cruthers centered and Dan Steiner was credited with his second goal of the game, and Gordon with his second assist at 19:36 of the second.
Totaling 23 shots in two periods, the Devils had created several scoring chances throughout the game, but on their first chance of the third, Trenton's points leader, Brett Wilson, set up Mike Harder's third goal of the year. Jeff Prough nudged the puck through the right wing circle where Wilson took it toward the back of the net as Harder cut to the crease. Wilson's sudden pass connected perfectly to Harder who quickly sent it past Erickson to make it 3-2 Royals at 1:18 of the third.
The only power play in the third came for the Devils in the closing moments of regulation; even with Caruso going off for an extra attacker, the Devils couldn't score and Reading held on for the 3-2 win. The Devils (8-11-1-2, 19pts) remain in fourth place, one point behind third-place Johnstown. The Royals (12-8-1-1, 26pts) now lead the East by three points over Elmira, and seek to extend their success against the Devils Sunday afternoon at 4 in Trenton.
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