Devils Dominate Chiefs in Farewell to War Memorial, 6-2
February 21, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Johnstown, PA - Four goals in the third period secured a 6-2 win for Trenton in the final game for the Devils at Johnstown's famed Cambria County War Memorial Arena. With the Chiefs destined for Greenville, SC next season, the Devils bid farewell to the venue made famous in the 1977 film "Slap Shot" with a rollicking offensive display. Chris Poli had the second Devils hat trick of the season, and Dan Charleston and Matt Vokes collected three assists each. Goalie Dave Caruso won his fourth consecutive start, making 41 saves in his 12th win.
With the Devils outshooting the Chiefs 10-0 in the opening minutes, Trenton did Saturday what the Chiefs were unable to do Friday: capitalize on early power plays. A five-on-three in the first five minutes led to Trenton's first score, with Dan Charleston starting the play from the perimeter to Tony Zancanaro in the crease, who, with his back to the goal, quickly passed back to Chris Poli who fired around the Zancanaro screen for a 1-0 Devils lead at 4:26 of the first. It was the first of four power play goals on the evening for Trenton, a season high.
Jim McKenzie tied the game for Johnstown with a power play goal early in the second with assists from Sean Berkstresser and Trevor Hendrikx at 2:56. The Devils took the lead back ten minutes later, again utilizing the two-man advantage. Tim Kunes' wrister from the high slot sailed over goalie John Murray's left shoulder for the power play goal at 13:35. Matt Vokes and Dan Charleston garnered assists and the Devils had a 2-1 lead late in the second.
Trenton scored three goals in the span of 80 seconds early in the third. Jim McKenzie took a double minor for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct at 2:35 and the Devils scored on the consecutive power plays. Chris Poli took a pass from Matt Vokes across the slot and buried his second of the game at 3:08 and Tim Kunes got the secondary assist. Half a minute later, Ryan Ginand tallied the score shortly after the penalty was reset. Dave Leaderer and Jack Combs got assists for setting up Ginand who stickhandled from the right wing circle toward the left side of the slot for his 12th of the season.
Roughing minors to each side created a four-on-four situation, and Dan Charleston teamed with Chris Poli for yet another score at 4:28. After Slavomir Tomko got the puck to the right goal line for Charleston, the feed came to the goal mouth for Poli's finish, completing the hat trick and his seventh goal of the season. Charleston got his third assist and now has 12 points in a five-game point streak. Shortly after, a skirmish involving Chris Murray, Chanse Fitzpatrick and Hendrikx put the Devils a man up for seven minutes, but the Chiefs killed it off, even creating a couple shorthanded opportunities, but Dave Caruso brilliantly denied chance after chance. Just six seconds after the penalty time ran out, Brett Wilson scored his eighth of the season from Vokes and Combs to make it 6-1 Trenton. Michael Couch's shot from the right point evaded a screened Caruso in garbage time to make it 6-2, but the Devils held on for their seventh win in nine meetings with Johnstown.
The Devils (21-23-4-5, 51pts) pull to within three points of second place Reading, as the Royals lost to the division leading Elmira Jackals Saturday night. Trenton returns to Sun National Bank Center for an afternoon game Sunday at 4 p.m. against the Wheeling Nailers, who won in a shootout Saturday night in Cincinnati.
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ECHL Stories from February 21, 2010
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