Devils jolt Jackals, 5-2
January 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
TRENTON, NJ (January 25, 2008) - The young fans in attendance for Youth Hockey Night at Sovereign Bank Arena were given a clinic by the Trenton Devils, who outplayed Elmira to a 5-2 win. Jim Henkel scored a hat trick for his third straight multi-point game, All-Star Ryan Gunderson had four assists, and the Devils fought tenaciously in multiple fistfights to earn their first win against the Jackals this season.
Trenton found itself trailing early in the first period after a Luke Fulghum goal 2:33 in. But Henkel's first goal of the night equalized the score thirteen minutes later. Set up with the Devils' first power play, Henkel stood his ground in front of the crease, redirecting a centering pass by Gunderson through the legs of netminder Dan LaCosta. The puck trickled past the goal line for the score.
That goal generated the first of five fights between the two squads, the result of which gave Trenton another power play chance. Tony Zancanaro would not let it pass by unscored, wristing another Gunderson pass into the top right shelf 23 seconds after Henkel's shot.
The Devils would also gain some offense from their new addition, Benoit Mondou. Playing in his first game with Trenton since arriving from the Lowell Devils of the AHL, Mondou took the All-Star defenseman's pass and broke into the attacking zone with it. Deftly evading two defenders, Mondou put the brakes on at the top dot and fired a shot past LaCosta with five seconds remaining in the first period for Trenton's third power play goal of the night.
Mondou's game-winner would stand tall thanks to the efforts of Henkel, who scored Trenton's remaining two goals. The assistant captain's second goal of the game came in a power play in the second period, when he picked up and fired a feed from Eric Castonguay while breaking into the slot.
Henkel's final tally came with the net empty for Elmira, which had cut the deficit to 4-2 with a score from Benoit Doucet late in the third. The hat trick is Henkel's first of the season, and fourth for the Devils this year. The Hazlet, NJ native was assisted by Zancanaro for the forward's fourth multi-point effort of the campaign.
Stephen Wood had two assists on the goals by Mondou and Zancanaro, earning him his third straight multi-point match. Henkel is also on a three-game multi-point streak, while Gunderson now has eight assists in three contests.
The game was carried away several times by fights between the two teams. Thomas Harrison had the biggest match of the night, squaring off against Chaz Johnson, who had ridden a team-record nine-game point streak into the contest. Harrison's flurry of big right hooks rocked Johnson hard, forcing the linesmen to jump in to end the fight.
Zancanaro also added some late-period power. Refusing to be batted around by several Elmira skaters, the 5-6 forward leveled into Frank Littlejohn with a full-body check, losing his helmet in the process but sending the Elmira captain flying. Zancanaro would then trade barbs with the Elmira bench has he skated off the ice.
Dave Caruso made 37 saves on 39 shots to get the win for Trenton, his twelfth of the season. The netminder was runner-up for the RBK Hockey Goaltender of the Week award last week, and continued his strong play this evening.
The Devils went four-for-five on the power play, while holding Elmira scoreless in five chances. It was Trenton's best night of the season with the man-advantage.
The Trenton Devils continue their homestand when they welcome the Reading Royals at Sovereign Bank Arena Saturday, January 26 at 7:00pm. Tune into WTSR 91.3 or go online to www.trentondevils.com and listen or watch live courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from January 25, 2008
- 'Blades gain point, but fall in OT 3-2 - Florida Everblades
- Wildcatters nip shortmanned Sea Wolves 4-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Nailers fall just short in Cincinnati - Wheeling Nailers
- Grizzlies end home stand with 1-0 loss - Utah Grizzlies
- Lalande and Wranglers shutout Utah 1-0 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Devils jolt Jackals, 5-2 - Trenton Devils
- Cyclones run streak to eleven, 4-3 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Bombers smoke out Chiefs - Johnstown Chiefs
- Stingrays topple Everblades in OT 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Checkers defeat Lynx, win 2-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Bombers, Duchesne shut out Chiefs, 3-0 - Dayton Bombers
- Murray Returned To RoadRunners - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Thunder Fans Once Again Toss Thousands for Charity - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Farynuk Returned To AHL Duty, Recalled to Springfield - Stockton Thunder
- Peters named ECHL Goalie of the Week - Florida Everblades
- Florida's Peters Named Rbk Hockey Goalie Of The Week - ECHL
- 100,000th fan to receive prize this weekend - Alaska Aces
- Second Half of Season Starts Tomorrow at the Hangar - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Condors Game Preview - Bakersfield Condors
- Former Stingray Takes the Ice at the AHL All-Star Classic - South Carolina Stingrays
- First Round Pick Ouellet Joins Sea Wolves - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Steelheads And First Book Team Up For Kids - Idaho Steelheads
- 13 Former ECHL Players Selected For AHL All-Star Game - ECHL
- Falcons Launch March To Selland Ticket Campaign - Fresno Falcons
- Marlies recall Cashman, Doig and Wellar - Columbia Inferno
- Utah's Haskins, Kinasewich Named In Glas Co Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Haskins, Kinasewich Named ECHL Co-Players Of The Week - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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.
