Titans End 4-Game Winless Streak; Drop Wheeling at Home, 4-2

December 14, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Titans News Release


Trenton, NJ - The Trenton Titans, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, took down the Wheeling Nailers on home ice Friday night, 4-2, at the Sun National Bank Center. With the win, the Titans (9-11-1-2, 21 pts) snapped a four-game losing streak and gained two points on the Nailers (6-10-2-3, 17 pts) in the Atlantic Division standings.

Kelly Zajac drew first blood for Trenton, beating Wheeling net minder Scott Darling (3-5-0-1, 31 saves) with a seeing-eye wrist-shot through traffic 6:50 into the first period.

The lead proved to be short lived, as former Titan Matt Germain responded for Wheeling just seconds later, grabbing a rebound and putting a backhander past Scott Wedgewood (7-7-1, 32 saves) to tie the contest.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the second, starting with Zajac's second goal of the night. The Winnipeg native swept home the rebound of a redirected Marcel Alvarez shot at 9:04 of the period. Alvarez and Stephen Schultz were credited with assists on the play. The helper was the first professional point for Alvarez, a West Point graduate (2012) and Black Knights' standout, currently on temporary leave from military service. Kelly Zajac now has 5 points (4G, 1A) in 5 games as a Titan. Tonight also marked his second two-goal performance as a Titan, as he also netted a pair, two games ago in a shootout loss in South Carolina.

Later in the second, the Wheeling power play struck with Trenton's Justin Taylor in the box for roughing. Paul Crowder received a pass from Chris Wild and beat Wedgewood to send the teams to the locker room tied at two.

The home team took over in the third, starting with Justin Taylor tipping a Connor Goggin shot over the left shoulder of Darling to give the Titans their third lead of the game. Matt Mangene was credited with a secondary assist on the play, his second point as a Titan. Eric Baier added some insurance - and some flair - late in the game for Trenton, weaving through a couple of Nailers and beating Darling with a rising forehander that found the top corner of the net.

Wheeling went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Titans were held scoreless on three man-advantage opportunities. The Titans penalty kill is operating at 83.3% for the season, and ranked ninth overall entering play tonight.

The win was the team's first in five games (0-2-1-1) since defeating Elmira in a shootout, 7-6, on home ice Dec. 1st. The Jackals are back in town tomorrow, and the division rivals are set to clash at 7:05 pm. The Titans then play host to the Orlando Solar Bears in a Sunday matinee. Puck drop for the first-ever meeting with expansion Orlando will be at 3:05 Sunday. All Titans games can be heard live on 107.7 FM The Bronc, or online at 1077thebronc.com with "The Bronc", Daryle Dobos, the voice of the Titans.



ECHL Stories from December 14, 2012


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