Devils Explode Past Royals In Standings, On Scoreboard
February 27, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Trenton, NJ - Trenton exploded with four unanswered goals in the third period in an otherwise closely matched game for a 7-1 victory, passing Reading in the standings for sole possession of second place in the East. Jack Combs recorded a hat trick, including the first goal of the game and the final two Devils tallies, increasing his goal total to 18 on the season. A season-high 4,663 fans at SunCenter cheered the Devils to their seventh win in eight games and the largest margin of victory this season.
The Devils converted on key opportunities, limited Reading's quality chances and cleared out many second efforts around Caruso's crease in the convincing victory. The win is Trenton's sixth consecutive and Dave Caruso's fifth in those six games, stopping 30 shots opposite Josh Johnson who let in five of 25 before being pulled for rookie Jeff MacDougald, fresh from Wilfrid Laurier University who allowed two on five shots. All eight goals in the game came at even strength, with only four total penalties before a melee in the final minute, when two minors and six misconduct penalties were assessed.
The Devils earned a 2-0 lead by first period's end on goals by Jack Combs and Justin Coutu. Combs skated uncontested from one side of the net to the other, stuffing the puck by Johnson's left pad for a 1-0 lead at 14:20, assists to Brett Wilson and Matt Vokes, extending Vokes' point streak to eight games. Coutu netted his second of the season with just 1:21 left on centering pass from Dan Charleston that was redirected past Johnson, andChris Poli earned a secondary helper. Dave Caruso saved all 11 shots faced in the first and the Devils killed off three Royals power plays without garnering one of their own.
The teams traded goals in the second period and the Devils outshot the Royals 13-11, evening both teams total shots at 22 apiece. Jeff Prough scored his team-leading 20th on a sharp angle shot from the bottom of the right wing circle, just above the goal line just seven seconds after Olivier Labelle's hooking penalty expired. Labelle answered with a goal of his own, his 17th of the season at 10:07, converting a snap-shot on a two-on-two rush with Stefano Giliati
Reading came out hungry in the third with consistent pressure in the Trenton zone, but the Devils kept much of the play to the outside and took advantage of the Royals offensive zone commitment just about half way through the period.
Jeremy Akeson and Jack Combs each scored two consecutive to seal the win for the Devils. Akeson scored on a screaming breakaway down the center of the ice at 8:15 and on a right wing drive with Prough from center ice at 10:47. Prough and Tony Zancanaro assisted on both of Akeson's markers. Combs' final two goals came at the expense of the rookie, Jeff MacDougald, who replaced Johnson with just over seven minutes left in the game. Combs' second goal of the game came on rush that started from a Devils defensive zone face-off at 15:31 and pounded the hat-trick goal in from the side of the net at 17:37.
The Devils (24-23-4-5, 57pts) have now won three games against Reading this season, all coming in the past four games against the Royals, by the glove hand of Dave Caruso. In conjunction with a Wheeling loss, Trenton closes within two points of the Nailers for the last playoff spot and host Reading once again on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
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ECHL Stories from February 27, 2010
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