Devils Hang On For Another Wild Ride, Win

Published on February 15, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


Elmira, NY - Trenton built leads of 3-0 and 6-3 and held on for a 7-5 win Sunday evening at Elmira's First Arena. Dan Charleston had first-star honors with four points (2g, 2a), Dave Caruso made 46 saves in his second straight win, and Carter Lee notched his first professional goal.

Three strikes in the first three minutes of the game put the Devils in control. With Elmira attempting to instill a defensive presence early, two Jackals collided while trying to sandwich Tony Zancanaro. Meanwhile, Dan Charleston created turnover at Elmira's blue line on the right wing. As Zancanaro ducked away from the check, he took a pass from Charleston and closed on goalie Julien Ellis and roofed a backhander past him for a 1-0 Devils lead at :49. Less than a minute later, Matt Vokes and Dan Eves helped get the puck to the crease where Carter Lee started jamming away and eventually banged it past Ellis for his first goal with the Devils and a 2-0 lead. Charleston buried a redirection goal at 2:53, setup by Jeremy Akeson, and the Devils had a three goal edge.

Elmira used the power play to battle back late in the period. Wes Cunningham got a one-time chance from the right point on a setup from Yannick Tifu. Caruso leapt for the knuckling puck, but it zagged past him at 12:10. Cunningham got the primary assists on the next two goals, first by escaping Devils defenders on the left-wing boards and finding Chris Korchinski for his tenth of the year at 15:18. A five-on-three power play generated the third goal, as perimeter passing had Justin Donati send it from the left-wing circle to the high slot for Cunningham who made a one-time pass to the right circle for a Tyler Donati one-time shot past Caruso to tie the game at 18:49.

Trenton reclaimed the lead early in the second with all-star Jeff Prough getting two points, including his third goal in two days. The team leader in points (36) and goals (18) scored on the power play by getting low on the left side and sneaking it through Ellis' five-hole, with Tim Kunes and Charleston assisting. Charleston scored his second of the game just before the nine minute mark. Now with 13 points in nine games, Charleston had a two-on-one with Jeff Prough and got the return feed in the crease and tipped in a second effort after Ellis made the initial save.

Ahead 5-3 entering the third, Trenton managed to supplant its lead with Matt Vokes again helping to create more offense. A precise feed out of the corner connected with Brett Wilson who scored his first goal since January 29 to make it 6-3 Devils with 12 minutes left in regulation. Brennan Turner got the Jackals jumpstarted again, scoring on a second chance opportunity after Dave Caruso made initial saves on Maxime Gratchev and Chaz Johnson at 9:18. R.J. Anderson got his ninth of the year with a power play tally at 13:13 bringing Elmira to the brink of another three-goal comeback. But the Devils defense hunkered down, led by stellar play from Andy Thomas, who was +3 for the game, as were Charleston and Justin Pender. Jack Combs provided an insurance goal, his second tally in as many days, with Vokes and Wilson assisting on the power play at 17:57.

Immediately following the goal, Elmira challenged defenseman Chris Murray's stick, but referee Jean Hebert ruled it was legal, which necessitated a delay of game penalty against Elmira. Frustration set in for the Jackals, as Wes Cunningham then took a slashing penalty and Tyler Donati received a misconduct, joining brother Justin Donati in the locker room; Justin had been given a game misconduct earlier in the game. With the extra-man in the final minutes, Trenton coasted to the 7-5 win, handing Elmira its first regulation loss in a month.

The Devils (19-23-4-5, 47pts) remain seven points behind second place Reading, who defeated Wheeling at home Sunday. Elmira still controls the division lead by five points. Trenton visits Johnstown for games Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. before returning home for a meeting with Wheeling at 4 p.m. Sunday.

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