Trenton Skates Past Johnstown 4-2
January 13, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Trenton, NJ, January 13, 2010 - The Devils spoiled Chiefs owner Neil Smith's head-coaching debut by defeating Johnstown 4-2, Trenton's fourth win over Johnstown in five games this season. Tony Zancanaro collected first star honors with a goal to go with his superb penalty killing. Gerald Coleman made 24 saves in the win, including many crucial stops throughout the game.
The first period remained scoreless until newcomer Tomas Klempa put the Chiefs up 1-0 with 50 seconds left in the first, his first ever ECHL goal in his third game this season. A defensive breakdown allowed Jim McKenzie to emerge from the trapezoid and get a chance from near the right post, which Coleman stopped, but Bryan Marshall took the rebound on Coleman's blocker side and passed across the crease to Klempa. The rookie lifted the puck over Coleman's right pad for the score.
Trenton tied the game at 9:31of the second on Matt Vokes' third of the season. Luke Lucyk sent a neutral zone pass to Kyle Kucharski down the left wing for a two-on-one rush. Kucharski dipped his shoulder on a brilliant fake, leaving the Chiefs defender sprawling to block the pass, allowing him to handle ahead and make a money pass across the slot to Vokes. The former Brown Bear snuck the puck past the outstretched left leg of Murray to even the score 1-1.
Chris Poli scored his second of the season to put the Devils up 2-1 at 15:26 of the second. A neutral zone D-to-D pass by Thomas to Coutu set up Poli's one-on-one rush down the right-wing side. A left-handed shot, Poli separated from his man at the top of the right circle by dekeing to the center of the ice. Poli fired a low shot that squirted between Murray's legs for the one goal lead, which they held until end of the second.
The Devils increased their lead to 3-1 at 11:49 of the third on a rebound shot from Tony Zancanaro. Jeff Prough skated the puck from the left point to the top of the circle, feeding Trevor Kell on Murray's right. He powered his way to the crease, shooting from point-blank range, and though Murray made the first stop, Zancanaro weaved through the defense to quickly fire home the rebound for his eighth goal of the season.
Rough stuff after Zancanaro's goal led to a melee behind the net as Trevor Kell retaliated against goaltender Murray for a slew foot. Kell received six minutes for roughing while two Johnstown players went for two minutes each, giving the Chiefs a power play. Less than ten seconds after Kell's penalty expired, Sean Berkstresser scored a rebound goal reducing the Devils lead to 3-2.
The Devils regained their two-goal edge at 18:34 as Murray coughed the puck up behind the Chiefs goal to Jack Combs in the right-wing corner. As Murray scrambled back to the net, Matt Vokes knifed down a pass from Combs, spiking it straight down to the blue ice, and the bounce eventually fluttered into the goal for the insurance tally.The Devils held off the Chiefs for the final minute hand a half to win the game 4-2.
Trenton is now 13-17-4-4 on the season with a 7-6-2-4 record at home, nine points ahead of Johnstown and nine points behind first-place Reading. The Devils next play host to the Florida Everblades on back-to-back nights beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
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