Bombers lose a heartbreaker in overtime, 2-1

March 20, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Dayton, OH- The Bombers returned home to the Nutter Center tonight, to take on the Trenton Titans for the first time in two months and for the final time this season. A lot was at stake in this game because, if the Titans won in regulation they would mathematically eliminate the Bombers and their playoff hopes for the 2005-06 season.

Both teams entered tonight's game following being shutout by their opponent last night on the road, so something had to give in this one. Although the Bombers came out with plenty of energy in the first, the Titans were able to hold them off and both teams remained scoreless after the first period of play.

Maybe because the two teams hadn't played in each other in two months, the game was more of a feeling out process to see which team would make the first mistake, or maybe because both teams had been struggling offensively, the second period was more of the same as the first. Near the end of the second, both teams picked up the offense and thanks to Bombers starter Mike Ayers and Titans starter Rejean Beauchemin, it was scoreless after two periods of play as well.

At the beginning of the third period, Trenton came out peppering Mike Ayers, but thanks to some of the best saves of the season by Mike or any other Bombers goaltender, the game would continue to remain scoreless, until just before the half way point of the third period, when Trenton broke the scoreless tie.

Jim Henkel was open on the right wing circle and off a feed from Titans leading scorer Scott Bertoli, he picked the far corner of the Bombers net thanks to a screen in front of Ayers, who never saw the puck to give the Titans a 1-0 at the 11:24 mark in the third.

As the period progressed, the Bombers, knowing they had to at least tie the game to send it to overtime to not allow Trenton to clinch the final playoff spot in the North, answered Trenton with offensive chances of their own, but Beauchemin stood tall until late in the third.

That's when Bryan Nathe (13) hit Tim Konsorada an outlet pass, which Konsorada took on over the Titans zone. Then seeing newest Bomber Jeff Legue cutting to the net, Konsorada (27) snapped a perfect pass right to his tape. Legue (1) made it count on a beautiful deflection off of his backhand, over the far shoulder of Beauchemin to tie it at 1-1 with 2:51 remaining in regulation.

Both Ayers and Beauchemin made huge saves as the clock continued to move and because of that the game heading into overtime.

Just 1:14 into overtime, the captain for the Titans Vince Williams, pinched down from the blue line into the slot and off a crisp pass one timed it home to give the Titans the extra point and the 2-1 overtime victory.

Mike Ayers was outstanding, maybe playing his best game as a Bomber this season, stopping 32 of 34 shots faced, but Beauchemin was equal to the task, stopping 28 of 29 to again pick up the victory.

The Bombers continue their 15th Anniversary season at home next Sunday March 26, as their top rival in the North Division, the Toledo come to town for an afternoon affair at 2:00 pm at the EJ Nutter Center. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or call the Bombers office at 775-4747 for more information. The game can be heard on 980 (am) Homer the Sports Animal or on line at www.daytonbombers.com. Dayton Bombers Hockey, celebrating 15 years of fun.



ECHL Stories from March 20, 2006


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