TRENTON, New Jersey – Jeff Prough netted the game-winning goal with 2:05 gone in overtime to push the Trenton Devils (2-3-0-1) past the Cincinnati Cyclones (1-5-2-1) by a 5-4 final in front of 1,847 at Sun National Bank Center on Friday night.
The opening period was nothing short of a shooting gallery, as a combined seven goals were scored between the two clubs. Cyclones forward Mathieu Aubin extended his point-scoring streak to 8 games as he blasted home a slap shot past Devils goalie Dave Caruso. However, Trenton answered back with three goals of their own. Matt Lombardi scored a power play goal and a shorthanded goal just 2:34 apart while Trevor Kell netted a goal at 8:01 to quickly give the Devils a 3-1 lead. After the third Trenton goal, Cyclones starting goaltender Chet Pickard was relieved by Marc Cheverie (L, 44 saves, 1-2-1-1).
Luckily, Cincinnati was able to answer right back with some quick goals of the own. Brian O’Hanley and Brock Sheahan each scored 18 seconds apart to knot the score at 3. Then, with less than two minutes left in the second period, T.J. Fast blasted home his team-leading fourth goal of the season to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead after one period. The Devils opted to change goalies as well, bringing in former Michigan State Spartan Jeff Lerg (W, 14 saves, 2-1-0).
Ironically, the middle frame stayed scoreless despite several chances for both sides. Cincinnati carried a 4-3 lead into the second intermission – the first time this year that they held a lead through 40 minutes.
Unfortunately, Martin Nolet cashed in the equalizer early in the third when he fired a shot just outside the left circle – tying things at 4. Cincinnati got whistled for a couple of late penalties as time ran down in regulation, forcing the Cyclones to kill a Trenton power play early in overtime. While they were able to snuff out the advantage, Jeff Prough jumped all over a Cyclones turnover, cut to the middle, and wristed home the game-winner at 2:55 of the extra session to give Trenton a 5-4 overtime win.
Cincinnati’s penalty killed played much better tonight, eliminating 8-of-10 Trenton chances. The Devils, meanwhile, killed off 4-of-5 Cyclones power plays.
The Cyclones will board the bus and travel through the night to Wheeling, West Virginia in preparation for a 7:35pm meeting tomorrow night against the Nailers at WesBanco Arena. Hear tomorrow’s game live on MAX-FM and CyclonesHockey.com beginning at 7:20pm.
The defending Kelly Cup Champions will return home next Wednesday night when they will host Toledo at 7:30pm. It will be another "Wet Wednesday" where fans can purchase $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon and Miller High Life. Discounted ticket packages and single game tickets for the 2010-2011 season are available now. For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.
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