Vokes Scores Four In Devils' Fourth Straight Win
February 21, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release
Trenton, NJ - A physical, back and forth exchange between the Devils and Nailers was settled by Matt Vokes' four-goal outburst, including a natural hat trick late in the game to lead the 7-4 victory Sunday at SunCenter. Five Devils had multi-point games as Trenton extended its win streak to four consecutive, the longest of the season, winning five of the last six games and closing to within five points of the final playoff spot.
Gerald Coleman earned his first win since January 27, stopping 32 shots opposite Adam Berkhoel, who stopped four of five before being pulled in favor of Michael-Lee Teslak, who allowed six goals on 37 shots. Coleman started in place of Dave Caruso, who had played and won the last three games, but Coleman shook off the signs of rust after allowing a goal in the first 30 seconds.
With the Devils in a 1-0 hole on a tip in to their own net, Vokes put the game back on an even keel, 1-1 at 9:20 of the first with a quick deke to the backhand on a Wheeling turnover. Tim Kunes and Brett Wilson collected the assists. Kunes tallied his fifth of the season with just 25 seconds left in the first, putting the Devils up 2-1 on a powerplay goal through the screen of none other than Vokes, assisted by Chris Poli and Dan Charleston.
Wheeling scored two consecutive goals through heavy traffic at the front of the net to go up 3-2 in the second. Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored his eleventh of the season by deflecting a Jon D'Aversa shot that came through multiple screens and defenders. Beauregard tallied next, poking the puck past Coleman during a melee in front that sent Coleman into his own cage. Aaron Clarke and Cliff Loya assisted on Beauregard's 33rd of the season, two behind league leading Wes Goldie of the Victoria Salmon Kings.
With one goal in the bag, Matt Vokes scored three consecutive, all on the rebound, to put the Devils up 5-3 early in the third period. Vokes' second of the game came at 10:17 of the second and would end the period 3-3. Vokes' third came just 1:36 into the third and his fourth and eleventh goal of the season came on the powerplay at 5:19. Slavomir Tomko assisted on each of Vokes' final three tallies, four total in the game, while Dan Eves, Andy Thomas and Dan Charleston collected helpers as well.
T.J. Fox scored his 20th of the season at 8:33, sandwiched in between Jeff Prough's powerplay goal at 7:59 and Brett Wilson's toe-drag goal at 12:50. Prough got his sixth point in four Trenton games, with a stint in Lowell mixed in. He received help from Kunes and Tomko and Wilson's goal was set up by Tony Zancanaro and Justin Coutu.
Matt Vokes now has six goals and seven assists in a six game point streak, while Dan Charleston has 14 points over that same period of time. Chris Poli and Jeff Prough continued their point streaks, each player with points in the past four games they have played, Poli's streak broken up by a ten-game absence due to injury.
Trenton (22-23-4-5, 53pts) travels to Elmira Friday to take on the division leading Jackals at 7:35 p.m. followed by a two-game home stand against the Reading Royals, who now lead the Devils by only one point for second place in the East Division.
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ECHL Stories from February 21, 2010
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