Devils hammer Nailers, 4-2
Published on March 1, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
WHEELING, WV - With a 3-0 lead and less than two minutes to play, the Trenton Devils appeared to have sown up their second straight victory. But while two quick goals would spoil Jason Smith's bid for his first professional shutout, the Devils picked up an empty net goal and skated away with a 4-2 win.
Trenton never relinquished a lead earned with a Trevor Kell tally in the second period. With seven minutes elapsed in the frame, the forward fired home a perfectly set-up one-timer created by Jason Bonsignore in the right corner.
The goal was one of three points earned by the winger, who also netted another goal and an assist.
Andrew Leach also put together a multi-point game, scoring Trenton's second goal two-and-a-half minutes after the first lamp was lit. The rookie forward slammed home a juicy rebound created by a Kell shot 9:25 into the second.
Kell's second marker did not seem important at the time, with Jason Smith stonewalling the Nailers, but it would eventually become the game-winner.
Brad Mills generated the victorious shot by drawing two defensemen with him to the Wheeling blue line on a break-out. The center threaded the puck between his legs, sending a no-look pass which caught Kell in-stride. A snapshot at the right wing circle finished off Kell's time on the scoresheeet.
Jason Smith stood tall for 28 saves on 30 shots, and seemed certain to earn his first pro shutout. But a late four-on-four generated a chance for Wheeling to come back, and goals by Aaron Clarke and B.J. Radovich made the game 3-2 in a hurry.
With Wheeling netminder Curtis Darling pulled for the extra man, a turnover created by Matt Cohen would set up the icer: an empty net shorthanded goal by Jim Henkel with 57 seconds left to play.
Henkel's tally was the first shorthanded goal of the season, and came in the Devil's 56th game.
Trenton's victory keeps it apace with the Johnstown Chiefs for the fifth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Johnstown defeated Reading earlier in the night, and remains nine points ahead of Trenton with 16 games left to play. The Devils and Chiefs will square off two more times.
The Trenton Devils finish off their road trip with their last game in West Virginia, taking on the Wheeling Nailers Sunday, March 2 at 6:05. Tune into WTSR 91.3 on Saturday and WBCB 1490 on Sunday or go online to www.trentondevils.com and listen or watch live courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from March 1, 2008
- Wranglers End Skid, Beat Salmon Kings 5-4 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Flichel leads Idaho to victory over Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Flichel's Seven Points Leads Steelheads To 8-3 Rout Of Condors - Idaho Steelheads
- Devils Hold Off Nailers 4-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Knocked Off By Chiefs, 5-3 - Reading Royals
- Royals Knocked Off By Chiefs, 5-3 - Reading Royals
- Beauchemin Sparks Bombers 3-1 Win In Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Devils hammer Nailers, 4-2 - Trenton Devils
- Comeback Kids Do It Again; Ice Pilots WIN 3-2 in Shoot out - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Close, but no cigar as Blades fall 3-2 in shootout to Pensacola - Florida Everblades
- Dayton Sweeps Weekend Series Over Elmira - Dayton Bombers
- Stingrays Tripped Up By Inferno 6-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Ryan Garlock Scores two in Chiefs' Win - Johnstown Chiefs
- Gladiators Drop 2-1 Decision to Wildcatters - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Jackson and Anderson Called up to AHL - Atlanta Gladiators
- Desbiens Assigned from Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- P.J. Atherton Activated From Injured Reserve - Reading Royals
- Condors sign defenseman Hanson - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Cincinnati Cyclones - Stockton Thunder
- Depleted Jackals Blue Line Gets Help - Elmira Jackals
- Baldwin Recalled By Flames - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Rays Host Columbia Tonight for Pink in the Rink Night - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Three first period goals victimizes Thunder, Rohlfs scores his 14th - Stockton Thunder
- Grizzlies Continue to Be Strong on the Road: Beat Stockton 3-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Cyclones Extend Winning Streak To 17 Games - Cincinnati Cyclones
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
