Titans even on week, still second in division

Published on February 19, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - Playing four games in five days, the Trenton Titans (24-20-5) gathered wins in their first two, but completed the weekend with back-to-back losses to remain in second place in the North Division, five points behind the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Titans started on Wednesday with a 5-0 shutout of the Johnstown Chiefs before edging the Wheeling Nailers, 3-2 on Friday. Wheeling got the better of Trenton, 3-2, in Saturday's rematch, while the Chiefs also got revenge on Sunday in a 3-2 victory. The Titans will face the Bombers in Dayton on Tuesday and then return home for a three-game, three-day set at the Sovereign Bank Arena, hosting Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday and Wheeling on Sunday.

CHIEFS BLANKED: Led offensively by Troy Riddle's four-point night (2g, 2a), the Trenton Titans also picked up their first shutout in 2006-07 with a 5-0 triumph over the Johnstown Chiefs on Wednesday at the Sovereign Bank Arena. Riddle's 18th goal of the season got the scoring started at 6:33 of the first, while his shorthanded breakaway goal at the beginning of the final period gave the Titans a 4-0 cushion. Mike Pandolfo's 35th of the year not only put Trenton up 3-0 in the second period, but also tied the team's record for goals scored in a season. Gregg Naumenko registered the eighth shutout of his professional career.

TITANS WHEEL BY WHEELING: The Titans got two goals in the final period of regulation to come from behind on Friday and defeat the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 at the SBA. Riddle struck first once again with a power play goal at 10:38 of the first, but two tallies on the man-advantage by the Nailers in the middle stanza put the Titans in a 2-1 hole after two. Skating on the power play at the beginning of the third, Trenton tied the score just 18 seconds in on Mike Pandolfo's 36th of the year. Dan Morrison then gathered up the go-ahead marker and his first goal as a Trenton Titan with 5:23 left in regulation.

FOILED BY FRANCK: Nailers goalie Andy Franck stopped all 19 shots he faced in the first period and 33 for the game to keep the Titans at bay, 3-2, on Saturday in Trenton. With the score tied 1-1 in the final frame, a two-on-one for the Nailers was tucked home by Joe Guenther at 12:10 of the third. Wheeling then went up by two less than a minute later when Sean Collins notched a power play goal with 6:55 remaining in regulation. Jim Henkel pulled Trenton back within one at 16:53, one-timing Scott Bertoli's centering feed past Franck, but the Titans would be unable to gather the game-tying tally despite a late 6-on-4 advantage.

HENRICH HALTS TRENTON: A breakaway goal and a shorthanded marker by Adam Henrich helped the Johnstown Chiefs fend off the Titans, 3-2, on Sunday at the Cambria County War Memorial. After Les Haggett gave Trenton a 1-0 edge on a power play goal 3:54 into the game, Henrich completed a breakaway later in the period to tie the match. Henrich then gave his team its first lead, working a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush, which he completed himself at 8:49 of the second period. Just over three minutes later, Benoit Mondou knotted the game 2-2 on the power play, but Jean Desrochers gave the Chiefs the lead for good, scoring on the man-advantage with 5:35 remaining in the second period.

ROUNDING INTO FORM: Scott Bertoli is currently riding an eight-game scoring streak during which he's recorded three goals and nine assists. This scoring glut for the Titans' captain makes him the team's active leader with 31 assists and 43 points (12g, 31a). Bertoli is also just six points away from the 500th of his professional career.

MILESTONES AND RECORDS: When Mike Pandolfo notched his 36th goal of the year on Friday, he broke the Titans' record for goals scored in a season set by Matt Zultek with 35 in 2003-04. During his record-setting run, Pandolfo has registered seven multi-goal games including two hat tricks. Another milestone was reached on Friday when goaltender Gregg Naumenko turned in 27 saves to record his 100th win as a pro.

RIDDLE RAMPS IT UP: Troy Riddle tied a team season high with his four-point effort (2g, 2a) on Wednesday during the Titans' 5-0 win over the Chiefs. With teammate Mike Pandolfo in the American Hockey League, Riddle is Trenton 's active leader with 20 goals and second on the team with 42 points (20g, 22a).

QUICK HITS: The Titans picked up their first shutout of the season on Wednesday against Johnstown...Trenton has held the opposition to three goals or less in five straight games...The Titans are 17-6-2 when allowing three or fewer goals.

ALONG THE BOARDS: "Along the Boards," the Trenton Titans' weekly talk radio show, will return to the Sportsman's Pub Wednesday, February 28 at 7pm. "Along the Boards" can also be heard on WBCB-1490AM. The Sportsman's Pub is located at 819 Lalor Street in Trenton, NJ.

UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, February 23, 7:30pm - Titans vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, February 24, 7:00pm - Titans vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

These will be games five and six of the ten-game season series between the Titans and the Cincinnati Cyclones (27-18-2). The Cyclones have won their last three in a row thanks in part to new additions Mike Wirll (3g, 1a) and Travis Lisabeth (2g, 1a). Wirll is third in the ECHL with 34 goals, while the Cyclones is tops in the league on the penalty kill at 88.7 % (300-for-338). Trenton leads the season series 3-1-0.

Sunday, February 25, 4:00pm - Titans vs. Wheeling Nailers

This marks the eighth meeting between the Titans and Nailers (19-25-3) this season. Wheeling notched the sole win in their last eight contests (1-6-1) with their 3-2 victory last Saturday over the Titans. Jordan Cameron leads all scorers in the season series with 10 points (5g, 5a). Trenton is 4-2-1 versus Wheeling this year.

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

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ECHL Stories from February 19, 2007


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