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Titans (Final) Week in Review

April 4, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Titans News Release


Other than tuning up for the playoffs, there is no better way to finish a season than against the other members of your division. Trenton got to do that in its final three games of the year. And in playing all three on the road, they got to help entertain the fans in a variety of ways, including a season finale that didn't want to end.

Thursday March 28: TRENTON - 6, Reading - 4

The Titans took the first two in this series, then Reading ripped off five straight over an nine-day period that propelled the Royals to a league-best 11-in-a-row, en route to the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference regular season titles.

But the Titans were able to right the ship, eventually winning enough to take the season series from the Beast of the East...including this night.

Trenton spotted the Royals a goal just 15 seconds after faceoff, but if that fazed them, it didn't show. Mike Ullrich (16) tied the game at 7:52 and Kory Nagy (8) scored a SHG seven minutes later for a 2-1 lead.

Trenton bumped it to 4-1 after the second period with tallies by Shane Harper (12) and Kory Nagy's second of the night. Things looked in control, but you can never let up on Reading.

That proved true after four minutes evaporated in the third, with the scoreboard blinking 4-3. Trenton regrouped and got the two-goal lead back on Harper's second of the night with 8:33 left. That score held until the final minute, as many of the 4,241 fans filed out - and boy did they miss a finish!

Barry Almeida scored a 6-on-4 PPG with 28 seconds left, then the Royals won the ensuing faceoff and dumped the puck on goalie Scott Wedgewood (W, 25 saves). His attempted clear hit a Royal and ended up in the low slot where Kirk McDonald had his second of the night and game-tier on his stick. Wedgewood robbed him with a lightning-quick glove save with 16 seconds left to keep the lead. Jesse Todd's empty-netter six seconds later sealed the win.

Friday March 29: Trenton - 1, ELMIRA - 4

Trenton may have wanted the win, but Elmira needed it, trying to establish itself as the #4-seed in the playoffs.

Much of the game was played in the Jackals offensive half, but despite being outshot 34-19, the Titans were only down 2-0 after two periods.

Wedgewood did his best under the barrage of a 17-shot third, but two more goals slipped through, effectively ending the Titans four-game win streak with a 4-0 deficit and 11 minutes left to play.

Elmira tried to get Maxime Clermont (28 saves) his first shutout of the year, but Jacob Cepis (from Harper and Blake Kessel), ended that notion with his 24th of the year with under five minutes to play.

The 51 shots allowed were a season high for Trenton, as was the 47 saves by Wedgewood. He would add his name to the Titans' record books as well on this, his final appearance of his rookie season (see below).

Saturday March 30: TRENTON - 4, Wheeling - 3 (1-0 SO)

For two teams whose seasons were over after this night, they sure didn't play like it, as Game 72 would require some extra hockey to decide it.

Trenton had won its last two against the Nailers in Trenton, but playing in Wheeling was much tougher as the Nailers proved by taking a 2-0 lead early into the second.

Harper (14) continued his hot play over the month of March, ripping a PPG from the left circle at the midway point to cut the lead in half. However Gentry Zollars scored his first of the season four minutes later to give Wheeling a 3-1 lead entering the third.

Trenton ramped up its pressure and it finally paid off at 12:41 when after a Paul Cianfrini shot, Nagy (10) ripped a worm-burner from the slot to beat Scott Darling for his third goal in as many nights, to cut the Nailers' lead to 3-2.

Cepis finished the comeback with two minutes to play, netting his 25th and sending the game into overtime.

Keven Veilleux had a chance to end the game at 3:35 of the OT when he was slashed on a breakaway. But Brooks Ostergard (W, 5-1, 36 saves) would deny him in front of the 2,850 on the edge of their seats and help extend the season just a bit longer.

In the only other SO between these two (also in Wheeling), it took eight rounds before the first goal was scored - a game-winner for Connor Goggin in a 1-0 SO win. Again only one goal would be scored...only this time it came in Round 2 thanks to (who else?) Harper, who lifted one over the left shoulder of Darling for what would prove to be the game winner.

Matt Germain nearly changed that in Round 3, ringing a shot off the crossbar. But it fell loudly and harmlessly away and Ostergard stopped the next two chances to cap off a dramatic end to the Titans regular season.

The (Re)View From Atop Mount Olympus

Relief Effort In The Wake Of Hurricane Sandy: As time passes it is easy to forget the people who were - and continue to be - effected in the aftermath of Sandy. The Titans are grateful to the members of Titans Nation who provided - and continue to offer - relief supplies for those in need.

On the Titans Fan Appreciation Night, Saturday March 23, the Titans auctioned off several specialty jerseys used to help people remember those still hurting from Hurricane Sandy. The total from the post-game auction easily reached five figures and the proceeds will go to help our Jersey neighbors in their ongoing effort to recover from Sandy.

The Titans will continue the help their neighbors as long as it's needed and will keep delivering donations as they come in. Trenton would like to thank its friends at Justin's Rentals in Trenton, for supplying the transportation needed to deliver those donations. For information on how you can help, please call the Titans' Offices at 609-341-1100.

Record Setting First Year

Wedgewood's outstanding play between the pipes has now embedded himself in the Trenton Record Books. He now holds the team mark in Shots (1,476) and Saves (1,329), erasing the numbers set by his current goalies coach in Albany (AHL) Dave Caruso from 2009-10. His 2,741 Minutes Played eclipses the 2,722 by Andrew Allen (2004-05), while his 48 Appearances ties him with Scott Stirling (2000-01).

You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First (Shootout) Impression

Three of the Titans four goalies this year picked up wins in shootouts (Wedgewood, Ostergard and Cal Heeter). For each of them, not only did they win their first ever professional Shootout (for Heeter it was his first in the ECHL), they did so by going a perfect 5-for-5 to get it.

The Trenton Titans returned in the 2011-12 hockey season after a five year hiatus and boasted a 26.1% increase in attendance over the previous year, the largest of any team in the (then) 20-team ECHL. They followed that up with a near double-digit increase again this season. For information on 2013-14 Season Ticket packages, call the Titans' offices at 609-341-1100, or go to TrentonTitansHockey.com.

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