News

DEVILS WEEKLY: DECEMBER 8-14, 2009

Trenton, NJ. – The Devils (9-13-2-2, 22 pts) return home after winning one of three games on their southern road trip. Trenton remains in third place in the American East Division, one point ahead of fourth place Johnstown and nine points behind first place Reading. The Devils open a three game series at home against the Cincinnati Cyclones on Thursday night at the Sun National Bank Center, formerly the Sovereign Bank Arena.

QUICK HITS

- Goalie Dave Caruso excelled in net in an impressive homecoming win against the Gwinnett Gladiators. The Georgia native made a season-high 53 saves, 10 more than his previous mark of 43 saves. Caruso made several spectacular saves to maintain the Devils’ 4-3 lead. In fifteen games this season, Caruso has a 3.59 GAA and a 0.897 SV%.

- The newly formed line of Tony Zancanaro, Kyle Kucharski, and Matt Vokes has been very productive, with two goals and five assists in three games together. Zancanaro has two goals and one assist in his last three games, while Kucharski and Vokes each have two assists. Zancanaro has 12 points (4g, 8a) in 25 games played this season, Kucharski has 11 points (6g, 5a) in 23 games, and Vokes has 2 points (og, 2a) in six games this season.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

CARUSO LIFTS DEVILS OVER GLADIATORS, 4-3 Trenton stopped its four game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators Wednesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Georgia native Dave Caruso made 53 saves in his spectacular homecoming as the Devils won their first game since November 28 against Elmira. The Devils’ first two goals came on breakaways as they jumped out to an early lead. Jeff Prough rushed down the left wing on a breakout pass from Brett Wilson with Dan Eves to his right. Eves roofed Prough’s pass for his team-leading eighth goal of the season at 15:25 in the first. The Gladiators evened the score on an Adam Berti unassisted goal midway through the second following a failed Devils’ breakout in front of their own net. Two and a half minutes later, the Devils again took the lead. Justin Pender made a breakout pass to new Devil Jack Combs on the left wing, who made a perfect pass to Trevor Kell to beat Gwinnett goalie Dave Brown. The Gladiators turned up the heat at the end of the second, forcing Caruso to make one save after another. Pat Galivan chipped a rebound home to tie the game 2-2 at 18:12 in the second. Tom Zanoski beat Caruso 17 seconds into the third period to put the Gladiators on top for the first time. The Devils fought back, tying the game and then taking the lead with goals 81 seconds apart midway through the third period. The Devils, on a two-man advantage with a tripping call and a delay of game penalty, cashed in 43 seconds into the power play with Jeff Prough’s sixth goal of the year. After a Tony Zancanaro face-off win, Justin Pender ripped a shot from the point that Matt Vokes deflected past Brown for the game-winning goal at 9:39. Trenton stifled a flurry of shots from the Gladiators late in the third to hold on for the 4-3 win. Caruso had a fantastic game in net, improving his season-high-saves mark by 10, having twice made 43 saves earlier this year.

SURGING STINGRAYS BEAT DEVILS, 4-1

The Eastern Conference-leading South Carolina Stingrays extended their winning streak to eight games with a 4-1 defeat of the Trenton Devils Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Devils appeared to carry over the momentum from Wednesday’s victory in Gwinnett, jumping out to an early lead. Matt Vokes and Kyle Kucharski threw several shots at net and were stopped at point blank range when a Kucharski shot slid off of Todd Ford’s pad and across the crease. Tony Zancanaro knocked the puck out of midair with the shaft of his stick to put the Devils up 1-0 at 15:38 in the first. Trenton’s strong play continued in the second but turnovers doomed the Devils. Trent Campbell had a breakaway off of a Trenton turnover and beat goalie Dave Caruso with a backhander at 9:38 in the second. South Carolina scored three more unanswered goals, one by Zach Tarkir and two by Dylan Yeo, to put the game out of reach. Despite having outshot the Stingrays 35-31, the Devils ultimately lost to the Stingrays, 4-2.

STINGRAYS ROUT DEVILS, 7-2

The surging Stingrays won their ninth straight game and their second in as many nights against the Trenton Devils Saturday night. Goalie Gerald Coleman, getting his first start in five days, was pulled after allowing three goals on four shots in the first twelve minutes of the first period. Jake Hauswirth, Gregg Johnson, and Keith Johnson each found the back of the net to put the Stingrays in control. With Dave Caruso in net, the Devils launched a brief turnaround. Gord Burnett dropped the gloves with Nate Kiser at 14:33 that put the offense into gear. The Tony Zancanaro-Kyle Kucharski-Matt Vokes line again set the example, generating their second goal in their third game as a unit. Zacanaro ripped a feed from Kucharski past goalie Todd Ford to put the Devils on the board at 15:22 in the first. Caruso made two very sharp saves in the following moments but could not snatch a Johann Kroll shot from the right point. Trent Campbell and Matt Fornataro each contributed to the Stingray’s tally in the second, extending the lead to five goals. The Devils managed to score one more goal in the third as Dave Leaderer stepped right into a shot in amidst a goal-mouth scramble to fire home his sixth of the year. Rob Ricci scored a short-handed goal for South Carolina at 13:25 in the third to complete the scoring and down the Devils 7-2.

DEVILS ACQUIREJACK COMBS

The Trenton Devils have acquired forward Jack Combs in a trade with the Alaska Aces. Combs, 21, has recorded four points (1g, 3a) in 11 games for the Aces this season, including the game-winning goal in Alaska’s season opener against Victoria. In his first game with the Devils at Gwinnett on Wednesday, Combs had the primary assist on Trevor Kell’s second period goal. The Saint Louis, MO native amassed 175 points (74g, 101a) in his last two years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League while playing for the Saginaw Spirit, including a 42 goal, 100 point campaign in 2007-08. The lone Saginaw representative at the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic, Combs ranks first in the Spirit record books with 134 career assists and second with 229 career points and 95 career goals. A left-handed shooter, Combs stands five feet, eleven inches, weighs 193 pounds and turns 21 January 26.

THE WEEK AHEAD

UPCOMING GAMES

Thursday, December 17, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – Devils vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, December 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – Devils vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday, December 20, 2009, 4:00 p.m. – Devils vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

The Devils host the North Division’s Cincinnati Cyclones for a three-game weekend series. The Cyclones (14-9-0-1, 29 pts) are second in the American North Division and saw their season-long five game winning streak end with a 4-2 loss to Reading on Sunday. Rookie goalie Jeremy Smith ranks third in the ECHL with a 2.58 GAA and has a 0.897 SV%.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – “Along the Boards” Broadcast

Join Dan D’Uva for the season’s third installment of “Along the Boards,” from Cheeburger Cheeburger, located in the Mercer Mall on Route 1 in Lawrenceville. Come out to watch the live broadcast with Dan, featuring Trenton Devils coaches and players. Bring your Devils merchandise for player autographs. Wear your gear and save 10% off of your Cheeburger Cheeburger order.

Thursday, December 17, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – Jersey Raffle/Dollar Dog Night

Eric Castonguay’s white Lowell Devils jersey will be up for a very special raffle at tonight’s game. Purchase raffle tickets for just $2 for your chance to win. Visit the table behind section 115 for your chance to take home the Castonguay’s jersey.

Purchase a hot dog for only one dollar all game long.

Saturday, December 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – Build-A-Bear Auction/Jersey Raffle

The stuffed animals your Trenton Devils made at the Build-A-Bear Workshop at the Quakerbridge Mall will be up for silent auction on the concourse. The auction ends at the end of the second intermission. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity – Trenton Area.

Each Saturday game, a game-worn jersey is raffled off at the sales table behind section 115. Purchase raffle tickets for just $2 for your chance to win.

Sunday, December 20, 2009, 4:00 p.m. – 4 for $49/Jersey Raffle

Purchase 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas – all for only $49! Lower bowl seating is available. Purchases must be made before 3:00 p.m. Friday before the game. Visit www.trentondevils.com to purchase your package now.

Each Sunday game, a game-worn jersey is raffled off at the sales table behind section 115. Raffle tickets are just $2.

February 13, 2010, 7:05 p.m. – Bus Trip to Reading

Ride our chartered bus to Reading to cheer on your Trenton Devils as they face-off against the East Division-leading Royals on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are just $35 for admission to the game, transportation to and from the Sovereign Center, and a Trenton Devils fan pack. The bus will leave at 4:00 p.m. from the Trenton Devils front office located at Roebling Market, 635 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08611. Contact Kristen Bartholomew to reserve your seat at 609-599-9500 or email kbartholomew@trentondevils.com.

DEVILS GAME BROADCASTS: Tune in as Dan D’Uva brings you all of the live Devils hockey action on www.trentondevils.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Both audio and video broadcasts are available on our website.

For the latest news on your Trenton Devils visit www.trentondevils.com.