Special Teams Doom Trenton Against Gwinnett, 3-2
February 25, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Trenton, NJ - Akim Aliu scored a game-winning, power play goal late in the second period to break a 2-2 tie as the Gwinnett Gladiators defeated the Trenton Devils, 3-2, Friday at Sun National Bank Center. The Devils rallied from a 2-0 deficit on goals from Ryan Hayes and Ryan Ginand, but Trenton was 0-for-8 on the power play and Chris Carrozzi made 41 saves to preserve the win for Gwinnett in the first of two games between the teams this weekend.
Will Colbert opened the scoring by blasting a slap shot past Jeff Lerg to give Gwinnett its first lead of the game at 6:16 of the first period after the Gladiators were outshot 8-0 in the first six minutes. Colbert stepped into a powerful slap shot after Pat Galivan fanned on a deflected puck in the slot and the puck slid to the oncoming Colbert who fired from near the blue line for his fifth of the season. Less than three minutes later, with the Devils on a power play, Gladiators forward Andy Brandt took a loose puck at center and raced down the right wing on a shorthanded two-on-one. He fired a wrist shot past Lerg for an unassisted tally, his 15th goal of the season.
Ryan Hayes got the Devils on the board shortly after their power play expired, surprising Carrozzi with a long, desperate shot from the blue line. The puck snuck between the post and Carrozzi's pad at 9:44 of the first period to get Trenton within a goal, trailing 2-1. Matt Vokes and Brad Miller picked up assists on Hayes' 19th strike of the season.
The Devils kept pressing through the remainder of the first period and into the second period, and eventually Trenton's leading scorer Ryan Ginand tied the game at 2-2 with his 24th goal of the season at 13:22 of the second period. Dan Charleston began the play, executing a 3-on-2 odd-man rush to perfection, drawing a Gladiator defender to him in the slot before dishing the puck left to Ginand who skated in alone and beat Carrozzi with a forehand to backhand deke. Dave Leaderer picked up the second assist on the goal.
Akim Aliu untied the game for Gwinnett moments later, beating Lerg with a quick turnaround slap shot on a power play just 3:41 after the Devils had knotted the score. It was the second special teams goal of the night for the Gladiators and their first power play goal in 15 chances.
Gwinnett's penalty kill stopped all eight of Trenton's opportunities with the man advantage, including four in the third period and in the desperate final minute with the goalie pulled for a six-on-four. Despite outshooting three breakaway chances and a 43-32 shots advantage, the Devils suffered their 30th loss of the season.
Trenton remains eight points behind Toledo for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot, with the Walleye losing to Kalamazoo Friday. Gwinnett keeps pace with Elmira who topped Wheeling Friday. Both teams improve to 53 points, one point shy of Toledo. The Devils and Gladiators battle again at Sun National Bank Center Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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