News

Kalamazoo, MI, November 20, 2009 - Despite amassing 36 shots, the Devils could not solve Kalamazoo goalie Ryan Nie in a 5-0 loss Friday night at Wings Stadium. The K-Wings scored four power play goals, the most Trenton has allowed this season, while killing off seven chances for the Devils. A total of 101 penalty minutes were served, a season high 60 for Trenton, as Gord Burnett had two fighting majors and a ten-minute misconduct.

The brash of penalties started early, with Justin Pender committing an interference penalty at 0:48. The Wings capitalized a minute later as Brian McGuirk registered his first goal of the season on a blast from the right point. Kalamazoo used another power play to make it a 2-0 lead at 10:14, with Darryl Lloyd making a sharp pass across from left to right for Ben Simon who scored his first goal of the year in his third game.

Two fights and three Devils power plays later, Trenton's only advantage midway through the game was in the shooting category. The Wings extended their lead at 14:44 of the second as Ben Simon passed from the right wing corner to the blue line for Jeff Mason. The defenseman's slap shot was saved by goalie Dave Caruso, but the short rebound was flicked into the goal by Sal Peralta for the lone even-strength score of the game.

Seconds after the Devils fell behind 3-0, Kalamazoo's Mitch Versteeg took a run at Brett Wilson warranting a roughing minor, but Gord Burnett instantly went after Versteeg himself, starting a fight which landed Burnett an instigation penalty and a 2-and-10 misconduct. Along with fighting majors for each, neither side came out with a power play. However, Mike Harder was called for hooking 30 seconds later, setting up another Wings extra-man opportunity. A hard dump-in for the Wings sailed around the boards to the right point for Sam Ftorek who wristed a shot toward the goal that was redirected by Brian McGuirk inside the near post for a 4-0 Wings lead at 17:44.

A Kory Nagy holding penalty at 18:05 of the second led to the fourth K-Wings power play score of the night. Another redirected shot evaded Caruso, this time with Ryan McGinnis tipping in the shot from Brian McGuirk. With the lead at five goals for Kalamazoo, every player on the ice was involved in a scuffle that resulted in five penalties, including Scott Bartlett and Bryan Jurynec for fighting. The initial elbow penalty against Myles Stoesz carried into the final period without consequence.

In the third, the Devils managed 14 shots, producing several chances over the course of three early-period power plays, but Ryan Nie continued to sparkle in net, as the Wings defensemen repeatedly blocked outside shots, and no further scoring occurred.

With the victory, the K-Wings own the best record in the American Conference (11-1-1-0, 23pts) and lead the North Division by eight points. The Devils remain in third place (6-7-1-2, 15pts), four points behind Elmira and five points behind East-leading Reading. The Devils rest on Saturday before a rematch with the Wings Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.