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Trenton Defeats Elmira on Back-to-Back Nights

November 7, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


Trenton, NJ - Emotions were high and so was the scoring in Saturday night's matchup against the Elmira Jackals, as the Devils came out on top 5-4. Having played each other just one night before, there was certainly no lack of intensity amongst the players. The game started off with a bang, as Jackal Brett Gallant was assessed an interference penalty on a hard and unnecessary open ice hit just 18 seconds into the game. The Devils failed to convert on that power play and went one-for-seven on the night, as the Jackals went two-for-six.

Elmira scored the only goal of the first period off the stick of Chaz Johnson, assisted by Brett Gallant and Olivier Proulx. Gallant was the center of attention for early in the first, but that is all the game action the Elmira forward would see. Head coach Steve Martinson expressed his discontent with the energetic forward by benching Gallant after he received another two-minute minor for roughing which was shortly followed by a five-minute major for fighting. No stranger to physicality, Myles Stoesz stepped up to Gallant's physical play and landed a number of punches in a very good scrap between the two forwards. Although there was a total of 22 penalty minutes in the first period alone, neither team could capitalize on their power play opportunities and the score remained 1-0 Elmira at the end of the first.

Tim Kunes was assessed a tripping minor just thirty seconds into the second period of the game and it took the Jackals just 30 seconds to convert, as Jean-Francois David scored his first goal of the season on the Jackals third power play opportunity. Down 2-0 early in the second period, the Devils' Dan Eves answered with a goal just over four minutes later, assisted by Tony Zancanaro. Eves and Zancanaro would again mark the score sheet just six minutes later, assisting on Myles Stoesz first goal of the season, tying the game at 2-2. Just over a minute later Tyler Donati converted the Jackals' second power goal of the game on Kory Nagy's high-sticking penalty. Eager to even the game before the end of the period, Kyle Kucharski scored his third goal of the season, assisted by Mike Harder and Myles Stoesz. Elmira's Maxime Gratchev received a hooking minor with 29 seconds left in the second period and the Devils were quick to strike, as David Leaderer notched the pivotal go-ahead goal with just 13 seconds left in the second period.

The third was a period of measured intensity, as both teams committed just one minor penalty each. Just over eight and a half minutes into the third, the Devils broke out for a two-on-one break and Jeff Prough lifted a beautiful wrist shot over the glove hand of Jackals goaltender, Chris Holt to put the Devils up by two goals. Elmira's Travis Gawryletz pulled the Jackals within one just minutes later, however the Devils strong defensive play and solid goaltending by Dave Caruso preserved their one goal lead to win the game 5-4. Caruso made 27 saves while registering his second win of the season.

With the victory, the Devils move into a tie for second place in the East Divison with 10 points, at 4-3-1-1. The Jackals suffer their first regulation loss of the year, but remain in first place at 7-1-1-0. The two squads meet for the fourth consecutive game Sunday aft 4 p.m. at Sovereign Bank Arena.

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