Trenton Denied by Johnstown 5-0
March 30, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
JOHNSTOWN, PA (March 30, 2008) - With their playoff hopes on the line, the Trenton Devils powered 25 shots onto the Johnstown Chiefs' net. But Ryan Nie and the Chiefs closed the door on the Devils with a 5-0 shutout here at the Cambria County War Memorial.
Nie made 25 saves in his best game of the season against Trenton, and pulled to within one win of the league lead.
The loss ensures that the Devils will finish in sixth place in the North Division, one spot shy of making the playoffs. It is the first time Trenton will miss the postseason since 2003-04.
That Trenton team rebounded the next year to win it all, and give the capital city its first professional sports title in over fifty years.
Mike Sgroi gave Johnstown the quick lead with his 23rd tally of the season. The big center took a near-impossible wide-angle shot from the right corner, and was rewarded with a squeaking puck between Jason Smith and the near pipe 1:20 in.
Johnstown increased their lead just 3:10 later, when Joey Olson slid a hard slapper from the bottom point under Smith's pads and into the back of the net.
Three more goals sealed the deal for Johnstown in the third frame, the first coming on the power play by Brian Deeth at the 55 second mark.
The Chiefs' last two goals came on transition plays, including a rebound knock-in by Olson for his second goal of the game. The forward knocked in a carom off an Alexandre Imbeault shot 16:12 into the final frame.
Trenton's best opportunity of the game came with two minutes to play. Eric Castonguay raced in with his line and fired off a rising shot which got past Nie. From appearances the puck looked like it had hit inside the goal and angled quickly back out, but neither the goal light nor official signaled for the score.
Shawn Houde picked up the ricochet and pushed it out towards Mark Tobin, who powered it across the ice to Sgroi, who was lurking along the Devils' blue line. Sgroi connected on a wrister to the top left corner, finishing the contest at 5-0.
Trenton went 0/3 on the power play, but went three-for-four on the penalty kill.
The Trenton Devils continue their final road trip of the season with a trip to Johnstown this Wednesday, April 30th at 7:05pm. Tune into WBCB 1490 or go online to www.trentondevils.com and listen or watch live courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from March 30, 2008
- Falcons Clinch Home Ice in First Round with OT Win - Fresno Falcons
- Reading Stopped By Cincy, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Birthday Boy Brodeur Makes 29 Saves in 2-1 WIN over Mississippi - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Pensacola Scores Two Power-Play Goals 33 Seconds Apart In Second, Wins 2-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Chiefs eradicate Devils - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bombers Clinch Second Consecutive Playoff Berth! - Dayton Bombers
- Cyclones Pick Up 3-2 Comeback Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals win 3-1; magic number for home ice at one - Elmira Jackals
- Trenton Denied by Johnstown 5-0 - Trenton Devils
- Bombers struggle with Elmira in 3-1 loss, still clinch playoffs - Dayton Bombers
- March Monday Madness and Blood Drive Night close out Condors regular season - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- RoadRunners Hold Off Aces 3-2 In Series Finale - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Alaska loses 3-2 to Phoenix, plays for West title next week - Alaska Aces
- Condors win fourth straight with shootout thriller over Utah - Bakersfield Condors
- Thunder engineer third period comeback in front of fifth sellout crowd of the year - Stockton Thunder
- Grizzlies Fight Back Twice, Fall 4-3 in Shootout - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Stunned By Falcons 4-3 In Shootout - Idaho Steelheads
- Falcons Rally for 4-3 Shootout Win over Idaho - Fresno Falcons
- Inferno earn point in OT loss - Columbia Inferno
- Thunder Surpasses 230,000 Fans For Second Straight Year - Stockton Thunder
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.
