Rays Fight Back For 4-1 Victory
December 12, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Four unanswered goals for the Stingrays doomed the Devils Friday at the North Charleston Coliseum, as South Carolina won its eighth consecutive game in the 4-1 victory. The Devils appeared to carry over the momentum from Wednesday's victory at Gwinnett. Dave Caruso started consecutive games for the first time since October and continued to sparkle, and took a first period lead, but turnovers helped fuel the turnaround for the Rays. Two goals in the second put Carolina in front, and two sudden goals in the third put it out of reach.
A line of Tony Zancanaro, Kyle Kucharski and Matt Vokes assembled Wednesday continued to shine in its second game together. After Zancanaro assisted on Vokes' game-winning goal in Gwinnett, Vokes returned the favor to open the scoring Friday. Vokes and Kucharski put several shots toward the net as goalie Todd Ford made several pad stops from point-blank range, but one chance from Kucharski fluttered off Ford's pad across the crease and Zancanaro whacked the puck out of midair with the shaft of his stick for his third goal of the year and a 1-0 Trenton lead at 15:38.
The Devils outchanced the Rays throughout the first, also managing 12 shots on goal to South Carolina's 10. Despite crashing the net and creating numerous scoring opportunities, line after line struggled to find the back of the net. By game's end, Trenton had outshot Carolina 35-31, marking the seventh time the Devils put more shots on goal than an opponent, but all seven games have resulted in losses.
Trenton's strong play continued into the second period, but the visitors were unable to match the home team's brand of mistake-free hockey. Justin Pender's ill-advised pinching effort on the left wing led to a turnover and a breakaway for Trent Campbell. Down the right wing, Campbell only had Andy Thomas to beat and he snuck a shot inside the right post to tie the game 1-1 at 9:38. The ensuing face-off led to another break, this time a one-on-goalie rush for Dain Prewitt. Handling the puck across the crease, Pruitt's backhander was denied by a sprawling effort by Dave Caruso, reaching his left arm back and to his right to keep the puck out. It was only one of another string of remarkable saves for Trenton's netminder.
With time running out in the second, Dylan Yeo, playing in his first game back after a stint with AHL-Hershey, put the Stingrays in front for good. Just before receiving a pass from Matt Fornataro in the corner, Yeo gave Jeff Prough a shove in the left wing circle. With more free space and Prough off balance, Yeo was able to fire it past Caruso for his fourth of the year at 18:21.
Yeo extended South Carolina's lead to 3-1 seven minutes into the third with his second straight goal. This tally came on a rebound in front following a right-wing shot from Jake Hauswirth, with Rob Ricci earning a secondary assist. 39 seconds later, the Rays capped the scoring with a quick right-wing circle wrist shot from former Devil, Zach Tarkir. His fourth of the year made it 4-1at 7:49 and sealed goalie Todd Ford's league-leading tenth win of the year.
Only five penalties in the game kept each side's power play in check, and Trenton last had an extra-man chance on a carryover penalty early in the second. The Devils (9-12-2-2, 22pts) remain in third place, one point ahead of Johnstown, while the Rays (17-6-1-3, 38pts) continue to pace the American Conference by eight points. The teams battle again in North Charleston Saturday night at 7:05.
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ECHL Stories from December 12, 2009
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