Lombardi Lifts Devils Over Walleye In Overtime, 5-4
March 19, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Toledo, OH - After surrendering a 4-3 lead with 3:48 remaining in the third period, Matt Lombardi scored in overtime to lead the Trenton Devils to a 5-4 win over the Toledo Walleye Saturday at Huntington Center.
For Lombardi, his game-winner was his second goal of the game, and second game-deciding goal at Huntington Center this season, as Trenton improved to 5-0-1-0 against the Walleye. Matt Germain, Martin Nolet and Mike Potacco also scored for the Devils, while Jeff Lerg made 44 saves in a winning effort.
The Walleye received two goals from Jason Lepine and a three-point game from Mike Hedden, but Thomas McCollum allowed five goals on 28 shots, and Toledo dropped to 29-31-3-2.
Midway through the first period, during four-on-four play, Jason Lepine beat Lerg with a long shot off a pass from Mike Hedden to put Toledo ahead 1-0.
The Devils responded just five minutes later on the power play, when Dan Charleston directed a pass from Chris Berenguer to Matt Germain, who fired past McCollum from the slot for his first professional goal. Earning the secondary assist, Berenguer also got his first professional point on the play in his second career game.
Toledo regained its lead 3:08 into the second period when its leading goal scorer, Mike Hedden, took a pass from behind the net by Andy Bohmbach and quickly shot and scored for his second point of the night.
However, Martin Nolet re-tied the game for Trenton less than four minutes later, when he scored a backhanded back-door goal off a setup by Ryan Ginand.
Although Jason Lepine scored his second goal of the game less than a minute later to restore Toledo's lead, the Devils got late-second-period goals from Mike Potacco and Matt Lombardi to take a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes. Potacco's game-tying goal came by following a rush led by Kory Nagy and Matt Germain, and Lombardi's go-ahead tally came on the power play and was assisted by Dan Charleston and Ryan Ginand.
The Devils maintained their lead until the last four minutes of regulation when Evan Rankin scored his 19th of the season to tie the game, 4-4. Mike Hedden and Dave Phillips assisted on Rankin's goal, which he scored by following up on his own initial shot that was blocked by a Trenton defenseman.
Tied 4-4, the teams battled into overtime, where Matt Lombardi deflected a shot by Jordon Southorn through McCollum to earn the Devils a 5-4 win.
Trenton continues its four-game road trip with another bout with Toledo Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 19, 2011
- Reign Drop Game to Condors, 5-2 - Ontario Reign
- Aces Clinch Division Title With 5-1 Win In Vegas - Alaska Aces
- Chad Painchaud picks up two goals as Victoria drops 3-2 overtime decision to Utah - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Stockton rides big second period to 5-1 win - Idaho Steelheads
- Aces Crush Wranglers - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Grizzlies Beat Victoria 3-2 In Overtime To Complete Comeback - Utah Grizzlies
- Royals Explode for Bounce-Back Win over Elmira, 9-2 - Reading Royals
- Nailers Shutout Stingrays 3-0 - Wheeling Nailers
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Jackals Jolted by Royals, 9-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Road Warriors Edged by Cyclones - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Delmas Leads Nailers over Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- Lombardi Lifts Devils Over Walleye In Overtime, 5-4 - Trenton Devils
- Blades Score Five Unanswered, Top Glads 5-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Blades Again Erase Two-Goal Deficit; Down Gladiators 5-2 - Florida Everblades
- Cyclones Hang on to Win Thriller Over Greenville, 3-1 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- San Antonio Calls on Ouzas - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Countdown to Faceoff: Stingrays at Nailers Tonight - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Transactions - March 19 - ECHL
- Greenville Road Warriors Game Preview - March 19 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Condors Vs. Reign Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira at Reading - Elmira Jackals
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads - Stockton Thunder
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays End Road Trip Tonight Against Nailers - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cyclones Game Preview: Cincinnati Vs. Greenville - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Today - March 19 - ECHL
- Sexsmith returns from AHL with 29 saves, perfect shootout effort for win - Stockton Thunder
- Salmon Kings Down Grizzlies - Victoria Salmon Kings
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.
