Titans build momentum heading into playoffs

Published on April 3, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Titans went undefeated in regulation this week as Trenton looks to finish the regular season strong heading into the Kelly Cup Playoffs. After going 2-0-1 in their three games this week, the Titans sit in fifth place in the North Division with a record of 30-34-5.

Trenton started its week on Wednesday with a contest against the Johnstown Chiefs at the Sovereign Bank Arena. Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, Brian McConnell fired a wrister inside the near post at 3:34 to knot the score, but Jean Desrochers gave Johnstown the 3-2 edge just 2:28 later. With the 14 seconds left in the game, a high sticking call to Dennis Packard allowed the Titans to skate 6-on-4. Trenton would take advantage on Garret Stroshein's first goal as a Titan to send the game into overtime and an eventual shootout. Luke Stauffacher and Jim Henkel each got the puck past Morgan Cey as Rejean Beauchemin stopped 4-of-5 to clinch the 4-3 win.

On Friday, the Titans looked to end a six-game skid in the season series against the Toledo Storm. Chris Blight got his team on the board first at 15:51 of the opening period before Peter Tormey tied the score at one with 6:03 left in the second. Former Titans Scooter Smith broke the tie with a power play goal early in the third frame, but Jim Henkel would lead Trenton down the comeback trail with two goals in the final minutes to make the final score 3-2 in favor of the Trenton. Beauchemin earned the win with 46 saves.

Saturday's rematch between the Titans and Storm was a low-scoring affair that only saw a total of two goals through regulation and overtime. Chris Pittman drew first blood for the Titans tipping in Henkel's centering pass with 2:59 left in the first period. The score would remain 1-0 Titans until 9:43 of the third when Todd Jackson went coast-to-coast on a shorthanded breakaway and sent the game into the extra session. After a scoreless overtime three Storm shooters lit the lamp as Logan Koopmans turned aside 3-of-4 to hand Trenton its first loss of the week, 2-1

The Titans finish their homestand on Tuesday, April 4 against the Wheeling Nailers. Trenton then closes out the weekend at Wheeling on Friday, April 7 before returning home to host the Reading Royals on Saturday, April 8 for both team's regular season finale.

LAST WEEK: 2-0-1

Wednesday, March 29 vs. Johnstown 4-3 (SO) Sovereign Bank Arena
- Chiefs Goals: Hedberg, Kelly, Desrochers
- Titans Goals: Stauffacher (pp), McConnell, Stroshein (pp)
- Chiefs Goalie: Cey (30-27; 2-for-4)
- Titans Goalie: Beauchemin (39-36; 4-for-5)
- TRE PP: 0-1
- TRE PK: 2-2

Friday, March 31 vs. Toledo, W 3-2 Sovereign Bank Arena
- Storm Goals: Blight, Smith (pp)
- Titans Goals: Tormey, Henkel - 2 (ev, pp)
- Storm Goalie: Koopmans (31-28)
- Titans Goalie: Beauchemin (48-46)
- TRE PP: 1-3
- TRE PK: 7-8

Saturday, April 1 vs. Toledo, T 2-1 (SO) Sovereign Bank Arena
- Storm Goals: Jackson (sh)
- Titans Goals: Pittman
- Storm Goalie: Koopmans (33-32; 3-of-4)
- Titans Goalie: Beauchemin (46-45; 1-of-4)
- TRE PP: 0-6
- TRE PK: 6-6

THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, April 4 vs. Wheeling, 7:00pm (WBCB 1490AM) Sovereign Bank Arena
- The final game of the year against the Nailers at Sovereign Bank Arena, where Trenton has is 3-2-1 versus Wheeling. Nailers goalie Andy Franck has a 1.98 goals against average in eight games against the Titans this season.

Friday, April 7 @ Wheeling, 7:30pm (91.3 FM WTSR) WesBanco Arena Arena
- Game 13 out of 13 between Trenton and Wheeling. Brendon Hodge leads all scorers in the season match-up with 13 points (4g, 9a) in 11 games. The Titan's power play is clicking at 19.0% (8-for-42) against the Nailers this year.

Saturday, April 8 vs. Reading, 7:00pm (91.3 FM WTSR) Sovereign Bank Arena
- The regular season finale for both teams. The Titans have been limited to 1.43 goals per game against the Royals while registering a 3-6-2 record in the season series, but Trenton has enjoyed much its success against Reading on home ice where they are 3-1-1.

Titans Notables
- The Titans are undefeated in regulation over their current five-game homestand (2-0-2).
- Trenton had scored power play goals in five consecutive games (6-for-21, 28.6%) before Saturday's shootout loss to Toledo.
- Jim Henkel is on a four-game scoring streak (3g, 4a).
- The Titans have skated past regulation in six of their last nine games, going 2-1 in overtime and 1-2 in the shootout.
- Rejean Beauchemin is 4-1-2 in his last seven games with a 1.90 GAA and a .960 goals against average.
- Trenton is 91.2% on the penalty kill (31-for-34) in its last seven games.

Round 1 Preview vs. Johnstown:
- Game 1 - Monday, April 10 @ Cambria County War Memorial, 7:30pm B2 Networks


- Game 2 - Tuesday, April 11 @ Sovereign Bank Arena, 7:00pm WBCB 1490AM


- Game 3 - Thursday, April 14 @ TBD, 7:30pm (if necessary) B2 Networks


- The Titans return to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the sixth time in seven-year history of the organization and are the reigning Kelly Cup Champions.
- The Titans are 27-24 all-time in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
- This is the second meeting between Trenton and Johnstown in the playoffs.
- The Titans defeated the Chiefs in four games in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2001.
- Trenton Titans Head Coach Tony MacAulay has twice appeared in the postseason with the Roanoke Express in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
- MacAulay becomes the 23rd coach in ECHL history to direct two different teams to the postseason.
- Trenton was 6-7-0 in the 2004-05 season series against Johnstown.
- The Titans are 35-21-4 all-time against the Chiefs.

Playoff Tickets

Tickets for the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs are now available by calling (609) 599-9500 or (888) SBA-TIXX. Game 2 of the Titans' best-of-three series versus the Johnstown Chiefs will take place at the Sovereign Bank Arena on Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00pm.

Titans In The Community:


- April 4 - The first 2,000 fans will receive a Titans seat cushion courtesy of AAA.


- April 8


- Fan Appreciation Night as the Titans finish the regular season against the Reading Royals at 7:00pm.
- The Titans will host the 2nd annual Pinewood Derby Championships beginning at 3pm at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

TITANS BROADCAST INFO:

Tune in as the Voice of the Titans, Mike O'Brien, brings you all of the Titans hockey action on WBCB 1490AM on Sunday through Thursday and WSTR-91.3 FM on Friday and Saturday. Fans can also watch or listen in on the Titans website, www.trentontitans.com.

B2 Networks also brings you live action for Titans games. Go to www.trentontitans.com to watch and listen to the game. 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.

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ECHL Stories from April 3, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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