Must-win weekend upcoming for Trenton

April 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Titans were able to sweep the Johnstown Chiefs, 2-0, in the best-of-three North Division Quarterfinal to move onto the next round against the number one seeded, Dayton Bombers. The Titans took Game 1 versus the Chiefs with a 4-2 win on Monday at the Sovereign Bank Arena and then wrapped up the series on Tuesday at Cambria County War Memorial, downing Johnstown 7-5. Trenton, however, now finds itself in a 2-0 hole in the North Division Semifinal after Dayton took 6-3 and 1-0 wins at the Nutter Center.

TITANS STRIKE FIRST: The Titans were able to fend of the Chiefs, 4-2, to take a 1-0 lead in the North Division Quarterfinal. Les Haggett led all scorers on the evening with three assists, but it was Scott Bertoli and Benoit Mondou who headed the Titans' offense with a goal and an assist each. Tied with Johnstown 2-2, Trenton got the game-winner 2:50 into the third period from Bertoli on a helper from Mondou. Mark Pandolfo gave the Titans a little breathing room with a slapshot that got by Ryan Munce with 9:52 remaining in regulation. Gregg Naumenko turned away all but two of the 32 shots he faced to notch the win.

SWEEPING ROUND ONE: Up 1-0 in the best-of-three series, the Trenton Titans were able to come out of the winning side of a barnburner with a 7-5 win to sweep the Johnstown Chiefs and move onto the next round. Trailing 2-1 in the second period, the Titans came back to take a 5-3 lead with the help of two tallies, including a shorthanded goal, from Troy Riddle. The Chiefs were able to pull back into a tie thanks to goals by Zbynek Hrdel and Marek Kvapil, but Trenton took back the lead 58 seconds later when Don Morrison scored with just 5:02 remaining in the contest. Mark Pandolfo, who finished the game with a two goals and an assist, added some insurance at 18:24 of the third. Scott Bertoli posted three assists, as Jim Henkel also picked up a shorthanded marker and an assist.

AMBUSHED BY DAYTON: The Dayton Bombers registered goals on their first three power play opportunities en route to scoring four over a span of 3:42 in the first period and taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five North Division Semifinal by a final score of 6-3. Six different Bomber players lit the lamp as Dayton's leading scorer during the regular season, Yannick Tifu, notched a goal and two assists in the match. With his team down 5-1 midway through the second period, Troy Riddle scored on the breakaway and later assisted on Les Haggett's marker in the third that drew the Titans within two. Despite outshooting Dayton 17-8 in the final frame, Trenton would get no closer as Bomber goaltender Adam Berkhoel made 27 saves to preserve the victory.

BLANKED BY BOMBERS: The Titans could not overcome 11 power play chances against or a 30-14 shot disadvantage in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Dayton Bombers. Yannick Tifu provided the only goal Dayton would need, scoring at 14:07 of the second period on their eighth man-advantage of the game. Despite eight power play opportunities against, Adam Berkhoel and the Bombers' defense kept the Titans at bay.

QUICK HITS: In 108 minutes played, goaltender Joel Martin has recorded a 1.11 goals against average and a .962 save percentage...Troy Riddle (3g, 2a) and Scott Bertoli (1g, 4a) each have 5 points in 4 four playoff games...Including the regular season, 10 of the Titans' last 11 wins have come when they've scored four or more goals.

UPCOMING GAMES

North Division Semifinal vs. Dayton Bombers (Best-of-five)

Dayton leads 2-0

Game 1 - Sunday, April 15, 5:00pm - Titans @ Nutter Center, L 6-3

Game 2 - Monday, April 16, 7:00pm - Titans @ Nutter Center L 2-0

Game 3 - Thursday, April 19, 7:00pm - Titans @ Sovereign Bank Arena

*Game 4 - Friday, April 20, 7:30pm - Titans @ Sovereign Bank Arena

*Game 5 - Sunday, April 22, 5:00pm - Titans @ Nutter Center

TITANS GAME BROADCASTS: Tune in as the Voice of the Titans, Mike O'Brien, brings you all of the Titans hockey action live on WTSR-91.3 FM on for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Friday and on WBCB-1490AM on Sunday for Game 5.

Fans can also watch or listen in on the Titans website, www.trentontitans.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Video broadcasts are available for a charge of $6 per game, while audiocasts are free of charge. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.



ECHL Stories from April 17, 2007


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