Jeff Prough Lifts Devils in OT

Published on November 7, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


Elmira, NY - A back and forth contest in Elmira was decided in overtime Friday night in front of a record crowd at First Arena, as Jeff Prough scored the game winner, with an assist from Tim Kunes, to give the Devils a 4-3 victory and hand the Jackals their first loss of the season. Elmira's seven game win streak to open the season was shirt-circuited in the process, protecting the league record of eight consecutive established by the Trenton Titans.

The Devils win is their third of the season and third against division foes. Their only East Division loss was suffered at the hands of Elmira last Saturday in a 4-1 Jackals victory. In that contest the rivalry borne in last year's first round playoff series was on display, as four game misconducts were assessed and a one game suspension was issued to Elmira's Chaz Johnson. The hot tempers carried into Friday's game, even with Johnson sidelined, as 22 penalties were called, including one major scuffle.

The Devils opened the scoring less than a minute into the second period when Jeff Prough flipped a high arcing pass to Brett Wilson in-stride who blasted one from high in the slot. Gord Burnett registered a second assist on the goal making his first appearance of the season.

The Jackals took the lead late in the period with a goal from Maxime Gratchev and a power play goal from Keegan Dansereau. Penalties against Prough and Dave Leaderer led to a five-on-three advantage for Elmira, and the first unsuccessful penalty kill for the Devils since October 28. Trenton had killed off 20 consecutive power plays when Keegan netted his first score of the year.

Unlike last weekend's game when the Devils couldn't overcome two second period goals from Elmira, the rematch featured an offensive surge in the third, starting with Trevor Kell's team-leading, third goal of the year a minute into the period. With the Devils shorthanded, a two-on-one breakaway with Andy Thomas and Kory Nagy put the puck on netminder Chris Holt, but the rebound lay in front, allowing the trailing Kell to streak in and tie the game at 2-2. Seven minutes later, Mike Harder fed Scott Bartlett in front for the go-ahead goal, Bartlett's second tally of the season.

Elmira retied the game 12 minutes into the third, with Olivier Proulx sneaking a pass from the trapezoid to Chanse Fitzpatrick 10 feet from the post who fired it past Gerald Coleman. The Devils had three power play chances after the game was tied, but the man-up offense continued to struggle, even on a five-on-three that lasted into the extra period. Despite the power play struggles, the Devils generated the even-strength goal in overtime as Tim Kunes skated the puck behind the Jackals goal and found Prough in front for the game winning score.

Gerald Coleman made 24 saves for the Devils , earning his second win of the season.

The Devils and Jackals both head to the Garden State following Friday night's game. The two squads square off in Trenton on Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday afternoon at 4, to finish out the home-and-home four game series. Join Dan D'Uva for all the play-by-play at TrentonDevils.com, courtesy B2 Networks.

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