Monday, January 28, 2008

Wheeling 6, Trenton 5 (SO)

Benoit's Mondou's hat trick helped pull the Devils out of a 4-1 hole to tie the game in regulation, but it wasn't enough to pull out the victory as the Nailers won in a shootout to take the victory 6-5 in front of 3, 683 last night at Sovereign Bank Arena.

The Nailers jumped all over the Devils early, scoring their first goal only two minutes into the game when Sean Collins found the back of the net.  A minute and a half later, this time on the powerplay, former Titan Seamus Young found the back of the net to give the Nailers a 2-0 lead.

The Devils answered back early in the second on a powerplay of their own when Benoit Mondou scored his first goal of the night 1:21 into the period when Jason Bonsignore found him in the slot with a pass that Mondou wristed past Wheeling goalie Martin Houle.

The Nailers would come back in the period with an answer of their own, however, when only a minute and change later Kevin Croxton scored, and then later, at 6:28, Corxton assisted on a powerplay goal by Joe Guenther to give the Nailers a 4-1 lead.

The Devils made their own second period comeback when at 11:49 Matt Cohen found Jason Paige streaking into the Nailers zone.  Paige went top shelf on Houle to bring the Devils a bit closer, and then, only twenty seconds later, Ryan Gunderson brought them within one when he poked the puck through Houle whilst in the middle of a scrum.  The momentum wouldn't last though as Kevin Croxton scored his second of the game at 19:16 to give the Nailers a 5-3 lead.

The third period would belong to the Devils and Benoit Mondou as he would score two powerplay goals to tie the game.  He skated through the Wheeling defence at 9:11 to score his second goal of the game, and he tied the game at 17:15 with a blast to the top right corner for the hat-trick.

After an uneventful overtime period, the game went to a shootout, which did not go the Devils way.  Only Ryan Gunderson and Jason Bonsignore managed to score for Trenton, with Eric Castonguay, Benoit Mondou, Trevor Kell, and Stephen Wood all missing.

Martin Houle stopped 45 of 50 shots for the win, while Dave Carsuo stopped only 30 of 35 shots for the loss.  The Devils strap on the skates again at home on Friday against the Elmira Jackals.

My Three Stars:
1) Benoit Mondou (TRE) - Hat Trick.
2) Kevin Croxton (WHE) - 2 Goals, 2 Assists.
3) Sean Collins (WHE) - 3 Assists.

~Titans Fan 25~

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Reading 3, Trenton 1

The Royals used a two-goal third period to break a tie and defeat the Trenton Devils 3-1 last night in front of 4,090 at Sovereign Bank Arena.

It was also the Royals who jumped out in front in this one.  After a scoreless first period, thew Royals found themselves on the powerplay early in the second courtesy of a Zach Tarkir slashing call, and it was then that Reading goalie Jonathan Quick used a Trenton change to find Dany Roussin with a long pass.  After entering the zone Rossin gave the puck to PJ Atherton who found Kevin Saurette at the circle.  Saurette skated to the center of the ice, and fired a shot that Devils' netminder Dave Caruso appeared to have stopped at first, but then trickled through his equipment and found the net to give the Royals a 1-0 lead.

It would only take the Devils ten seconds to respond, as at 3:17 after Matt Radoslovich intercepted an attempted clear by Quick, he passed the puck to Benoit Mondou who found Eric Castonguay on the other side of the crease who fired the puck home to tie the score at one.

Despite a Devils push in the third period which included two powerplay opportunities and several excellent chances, the Royals would pull away in the period with two goals, the game-winner coming at 16:19 when after the Devils failed to clear the zone, Shawn Germain, who had intercepted the puck found Joe Zappala behind the net who fed it in front, where Chris Blight was waiting to tap it in.  The Royals put the game away at 19:09 when Kevin Saurette scored an empty-net goal.

My Three Stars:
1) Kevin Saurette (REA) - 2 Goals.
2) Jonathan Quick (REA) - 43 Saves on 44 Shots.
3) Eric Castonguay (TRE) - 1 Goal.

~Titans Fan 25~

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Trenton 5, Elmira 2

The Devils used four assists from all-star Ryan Gunderson and a hat-trick from veteran Jim Henkel to upend the Elmira Jackals last night 5-2 in front of 2,972 at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

Despite the offensive explosion from Trenton, it was Elmira who jumped out in front in this one, scoring just 2:33 into the game when Luke Fulghum found the net.  Elmira then continued to dominate the play for the next ten minutes until for some strange reason they decided to begin brawling with the Devils.  Only seven seconds after Jackal Jim McKenzie had been sent to the box for slashing, Jim Henkel scored on the powerplay when he redirected a Ryan Gunderson pass through the legs of Elmira netminder Dan LaCosta to tie the score at 1-1.  Then the gloves came off.
Immediately following the goal, Trevor Kell and Chris Busby went at it, and after both men were sent off for fighting, and Elmira's Luke Fritzshaw picked up an additional two minutes for roughing, the Devils were on the powerplay again.

This time it would only take them 23 seconds to score as Tony Zancanaro netted his seventh goal of the season when he send another Gunderson pass into the top right corner of the net.
The score went to 2-1, and the Devils went to 2-2 on the powerplay.

The fighting picked up again after that goal as at 18:19 Jeff State and Thomas Harrison mixed it up, with State getting the better of Harrison, and again at 18:44 when Luke Fritzshaw again threw down, this time with Jason Paige.  A bigger meelee broke out at 19:20 when all ten skaters mixed it up to varying degrees of intensity.  Colin Pepperall and Trevor Hendrikx got five for fighting, Zach Tarkir got two for roughing for the Devils, Frank Littlejohn got two for roughing and Tomas Kudelka got two for high-sticking for Elmira.  All this added up to yet another powerplay for the Devils.  35 seconds later, recently acquired Benoit Mondou scored his first ECHL goal of the year off another feed from Gunderson to bring the score to 3-1.  For Gunderson, it was his third assist of the game.

Things calmed down a bit in the second, but the Devils' offence kept motoring on as at 11:48 on yet another powerplay, Eric Castonguay found Jim Henkel in the slot, who then fired the puck past LaCosta to give the Devils a 4-1 lead.

Elmira's Pierre-Luc Faubert scored in the third to bring the Jackals to 4-2, as the unpleasantries kicked in again.  After the goal, Elmira's Chaz Johnson and Trenton's Thomas Harrison mixed it up again, with Harrison picking up an extra two for instigation.  Everything finally came to a head with 36 seconds to play in the game when Elmira's Pierre-Luc Faubert and Frank Littlejohn went after several of the Devils players.  Faubert picked up four minutes for spearing and Littlejohn got a misconduct for cross-checking.  On the ensuing powerplay, Jim Henkel picked up his third goal of the game and his 13th of the season.

My Three Stars:
1) Jim Henkel (TRE) - Hat Trick.
2) Ryan Gunderson (TRE) - 4 Assists.
3) Benoit Mondou (TRE) - 1 Goal (Welcome Back).

~Titans Fan 25~

Trenton Recieves Mondou From Lowell

The Trenton Devils recieved a much needed shot in the arm last night when they were recieved Benoit Mondou, who was a standout on last year's team, on loan from Lowell.

Mondou, who tallied 25 goals and 31 helpers for 56 points last year for Trenton, had played decently for Lowell this year, recording 7 goals and 12 assists in 38 games.  The acquisition of Mondou gives Trenton some much needed speed and ability on the front line.

~Titans Fan 25~

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Reading 3, Trenton 1

The Devils dropped their first home game of the new year last night 3-1 in front of 3,046 at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

The Royals took advantage of a powerplay late in the first period to jump out in front when Steven Later knocked the puck out of the air and threaded it past Devils' netminder Dave Caruso.

After a scoreless and rather bland second period, the Devils tied the score at one when Matt Radoslovich scored his first goal for the Devils at 1:07 when Zach Tarkir shot the puck towards net a t Radoslovich deflected it home.

The tie wouldn't last, however, as Reading came right back on the powerplay two minutes later when Brock Hooton scored his 14th goal of the season.  He would later add an empty netter to seal the deal.

Jonathan Quick stopped 36 of 37 shots to record the victory for the Royals, while Dave Caruso stopped 25 of 27 for the loss.

My Three Stars:
1) Brock Hooton (REA) - 2 Goals.
2) Steven Later (REA) - 1 Goal.
3) Matt Radoslovich (TRE) - 1 Goal.

~Titans Fan 25~

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Trenton 2, Wheeling 0

The Devils ended their long road trip on a high last night as they defeated the Wheeling Nailers
2-0 in front of 2,104 at WesBanco Arena.

The teams played even hockey for two periods until Matt Rogers came alive for Trenton in the third, scoring the only two goals of the match.  The first occured at 7:43 when Jim Henkel found Rogers in front of the net with a pass from the corner.  Rogers then shot the puck into Wheeling goalie Curtis Darling's pads.  His second attempt would find home, however, as the Devils went up 1-0.  Rogers also added an empty net goal with 1:04 to play in the contest.

Dave Caruso rebounded from a couple poor performances on the road trip with a gem in the net for the Devils.  He kept the team in the game with some remarkable saves, stopping all 30 shots that he faced to pick up the well-deserved victory.  Curtis Darling didn't play badly at all for Wheeling, stopping 42 of 43 Devil shots, but he was merely outdone by Caruso.

The Devils return home on Friday at 7:30 to face rival Reading.

My Three Stars:
1) Dave Caruso (TRE) - Shutout (30 Saves).
2) Matt Rogers (TRE) - 2 Goals.
3) Curtis Darling (WHE) - 42 Saves.

~Titans Fan 25~

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Devils Add Bonsignore

The suspension of Jason Bonsignore, who was acquired on December 23 from the Fresno Falcons for future considerations, was lifted, allowing him to join the team.  In seven game with the Falcons this season, the centerman had 2 assists and 10 penalty minutes.  He is a -1 for the season.  The 30-year old was the fourth overall pick of the Edmonton Oliers back in 1994 and spent parts of four seasons in the NHL, tallying 3 goals and 13 assists.  This is his third year in the ECHL, where he had spent limited time.

~Titans Fan 25~

Dayton 5, Trenton 2

Matt Beaudoin and Brad Bonello scored two goals apiece as the Dayton Bombers ended their five game homestand with a win over the Devils last night in front of 3, 431 at the Nutter Center.

The game was fairly even through the first period and into the second until midway through the second, when the Bombers exploded with three goals over 1:03.  Matt Beaudoin scored the first goal on the powerplay at 13:45 when he converted on a Yannick Tifu centering pass.  The second goal would come just 45 seconds later when Bonello knocked home a rebound in front of the net. Mike Walsh would complete the charge, scoring 18 seconds later.

Jim Henkel would attempt to bring the Devils back in the third with two goals of his own.  The first, only 1:03 in, occured when Andrew Leach found Henkel with a centering pass which Henkel put past Bombers' goalie Rejean Beauchemin's left side.  Henkel's second goal came at four minutes on the powerplay when he knocked home a rebound of a Zach Tarkir shot.  The two goals, Henkel's seventh and eighth of the season brought the Devils back to 3-2.

It would not be enough, however, as the Bombers shut the door later in the period when both Beaudoin and Bonello scored their second goals of the contest to put the Devils away 5-2.

Rejean Beauchemin stopped 30 of 32 shots to pick up the win for the Bombers, while Dave Caruso manged only 20 saves on 25 shots as his bad stretch continues.

My Three Stars:
1) Matt Beaudoin (DAY) - 2 Goals.
2) Brad Bonello (DAY) - 2 Goals.
3) Jim Henkel (TRE) - 2 Goals.

~Titans Fan 25~

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Mississippi 2, Trenton 1

The Devils ended their southern road trip with a point as they fell 2-1 in overtime to the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Sunday in front of 2, 707 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.  The overtime loss was an improvement over the 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Sea Wolves on January 4.  The point puts the Devils record at 2-1-1 for the trip.

Mississippi opened the scoring in the first when they went on a powerplay courtesy of a trip by Jason Paige.  The goal came at 12:15 of the period when Marek Kvapil fired a shot from the right corner that went off the pad of Devils' netminder Dave Caruso, but Jason Tejchma was right there to knock in his 12th goal of the season to put the Wolves up 1-0.

The Devils would tie it up in the second when at 4:58, when after two attempts from right in front by Brad Mills and Matt Cohen failed, Colin Pepperall found the puck right in front of him and fired it home for his 4th goal of the season.

The game would go into overtime after neither team could find the net in the third, and it was then, at 1:37, that Marek Kvapil, again from the right wing corner, found Kyle McAllister who shot the puck
straight through Caruso's legs to give the victory to Mississippi.

Ryan Munce was again spectacular in net for Mississippi, stopping 36 of 37 shots to pick up the
win, while Dave Caruso stopped only 21 of 23 shot for the loss.

My Three Stars:
1) Kyle McAllister (MIS) - Game-winning Goal.
2) Marek Kvapil (MIS) - 2 Assists.
3) Ryan Munce (MIS) - 36 Saves.

~Titans Fan 25~

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Trenton 3, Pensacola 1

The Devils rebounded nicely from their 4-1 loss in Mississippi on Friday as they defeated for the second time the Pensacola Ice Pilots in their home arena last night 3-1.

The star of the game was certainly Brad Mills, who seems to like scoring his goals in bunches as he netted his second hat trick of the season, accounting for all of Trenton's goals.

After a scoreless first, Mills set to work in the second, scoring his first goal at the 4:16 mark when after Mills won a draw in the Ice Pilots' end back to Stephen Wood.  Wood then fired a slapshot from the blueline which Ice Pilots' goalie Cam Ellsworth was all set to deal with until Mills deflected it past him to put the Devils up 1-0.

Mills would strike again in the same period, at the 13:38 mark when Mills tallyed a wrap-around goal to push the lead to 2-0.  Mills would complete the hat trick in the third, at 4:10, when he wristed a pass from Stephen Wood over the left shoulder of Ellsworth.  Erik Fabian would score a short-handed goal later in the period for Pensacola, but it was too little too late, as Mills had already done too much damage.

Jason Smith picked up the win for Trenton in goal, stopping 41 of 42 shots, while Cam Ellsworth got saddled with the loss for Pensacola, stopping only 18 of 21 shots.

Before the game, Zach Tarkir was activated from the IR for Trenton.

My Three Stars:
1) Brad Mills (TRE) - Hat Trick.
2) Stephen Wood (TRE) - 2 Assists.
3) Colin Pepperall (TRE) - 2 Assists.

~Titans Fan 25~

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Trenton Loses Two To Lowell

Before the game last night, it was announced the the Lowell Devils had recalled forwards Joe Rooney and Trevor Kell from Trenton.  It will be the first time either player has been recalled this season.

Rooney had six goals and ten assists this season for Trenton, while Kell had tallied 8 goals and nine assists and had recently scored a hat trick at Elmira on December 17.

~Titans Fan 25~

Trenton 3, Pensacola 1

The Trenton Devils began their southern road trip with a bang, winning 3-1 in Pensacola last night behind two goals from their leading scorer Eric Castonguay in front of 1, 927 at the Pensacola Civic Center las night.

The Devils would fall behind early when Erik Fabian scored on the powerplay for the Ice Pilots, but the Devils would come back with a goal in each period to skate away with the 3-1 victory.

Matt Rogers would score the equalizer in the first when after finding himself all alone at the blue line, would be brought down near the dot.  Rogers would lose control of the puck but woulod earn his team a penalty shot which he converted at 17:37.

Eric Castonguay would take over from there, as he scored twice, once at 8:09 of the second when he took a feed through traffic from Jim Henkel over the left shoulder of Pensacola goalie Cam Ellsworth.  Castonguay then put the game away at 8:58 of the third when he one-timed an Andrew Leach pass into the net.  The goals were Castonguay's 13th and 14th of the season.

Jason Smith played his second consecutive good game in net for the Devils, stopping 34 of 35 shots en route to the victory, while Cam Ellsworth managed only 26 saves on 29 shots for the loss.  The Devils take the ice again Friday in Mississippi.

My Three Stars:
1) Eric Castonguay (TRE) - 2 Goals.
2) Jason Smith (TRE) - 34 Saves.
3) Erik Fabian (PEN) - 1 Goal.

~Titans Fan 25~

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Cyclones 3,. Devils 1

The Trenton Devils saw their five-game regulation unbeaten streak come to an end last night as they fell 3-1 to the visiting Cincinnati Cyclones in front of 3, 016 on Hannah Montana night at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

Cincinnati scored a goal in each period, going up 3-0 before the Devils could respond.  The scoring began at 18:14 of the first when Jean-Michel Daoust scored his league-leading 25th goal of the season, beating Devils' netminder Dave Caruso, who had an uncharacteristic bad game in net, from the near dot.

The Cylcones would strike again in the second, this time on a powerplay courtesy of an Eric Castonguay hooking call, when Matt Syroczynski took a pass from behind the net from David Descharnais and fired it home from the top of the crease.  Daoust picked up the second assist on the goal.

Cincinnati wasn't finished there as they picked up another powerplay goal in the third, this one off another hook this time by Andrew Leach, when Cory Urquhart netted his fifth of the season from the top of the right circle.

Trenton would eventually break up the shoutout when Ryan Gunderson scored his third goal of the season with a powerplay goal at 12:57 of the third.  Colin Pepperall and Joe Rooney assisted on the goal.

Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 18 of 19 shots to pick up the victory for the Cyclones, while Dave Caruso stopped 32 of 35 shots for the Trenton loss.  The Devils now set out on a seven game road trip with two games each in Pensacola and Mississippi before they return to division play with games in Dayton and Wheeling.  The trip opens on Wednesday at Pensacola.  Trenton will not play again at the SBA until January 18 when they host division rival Reading Royals.

My Three Stars:
1) Jean-Michel Daoust - 1 Goal, 2 Assists.
2) David Descharnias - 2 Assists.
3) Dov Grumet-Morris - 18 Saves.

~Titans Fan 25~