Devils Take Well-Earned Point in Cinci but Drop in Shootout 4-3

Published on February 8, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


CINCINNATI, OH (February 8, 2008) - The Trenton Devils stayed with the best team in the North Division throughout sixty-five minutes Friday night, but a solitary goal in the shootout contest would give the Cincinnati Cyclones a 4-3 win.

Neither squad gained much momentum in the first frame, with attacks on both sides of the ice ending almost as quickly as they were created. The lone goal came off the stick of Travis Fuller, who snuck a shot off the inside of Devils netminder Dave Caruso's pads. The Cyclones jumped out to a 1-0 lead with that tally.

Trenton would neutralize that lead in the second frame. The Devils created six breaks towards the Cincinnati net, but would get the equalizer on the power play. Joe Rooney, in just his first game back from the AHL's Lowell Devils, punched the puck past Dov Grumet-Morris from the upper edge of the bottom circle.

The score was Rooney's seventh of the season. Ryan Gunderson and Zach Tarkir each netted assists on the play, increasing Gunderson's lead amongst all ECHL defensemen in points and assists.

After two quiet periods the competitors lit up the goal lamps. Trenton took their first lead of the game 2:13 into the final frame of regulation with a broken play by Cincinnati.

Andrew Wood mishandled a clearing attempt, turning the puck over to Matt Radoslovich in the slot. The third-year vet saw Andrew Leach sprinting in at the top dot, and a one-timer between the two UHL alumni gave the Devils a 2-1 lead. Leach's fifth goal of the campaign gave Radoslovich his fifth assist.

Cincinnati battled back with a score by Matt Syroczynski three minutes later, on a tough call in front of the Devils' net. A trickler across the goal line did not elicit a lit lamp, but referee Ghislain Hebert saw the apparent goal and signaled the equalizer.

Trenton would bounce back a minute later, when Jason Bonsignore led a two-on-two charge into the attacking zone. Bonsignore's initial shot flew off of Grumet-Morris' pads in front of the crease, giving Eric Castonguay the perfect opportunity to shelf the go-ahead goal.

Castonguay's tally added to his team-lead of 15, while Bonsignore earned his seventh point in ten games with Trenton this year.

A scoreless overtime would result in the shootout, where the lone goal-by Cincinnati's Jason Deitsch-would tip the final result in favor of the Cyclones. The final result earns a necessary point for Trenton, who remains in fifth place in the North Division but is now tied with Johnstown at 41 points.

The Trenton Devils look to climb even closer against the Dayton Bombers at the Nutter Center in Dayton, OH on Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. Just five points separate the two teams. Tune into WTSR 91.3 or go online to www.trentondevils.com and listen or watch live courtesy of B2 Networks.

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ECHL Stories from February 8, 2008


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