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Titans Finish Homestand with Late Flurry, Defeat Elmira, 5-4

December 19, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Titans News Release


Trenton, NJ - The Trenton Titans, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, avenged last Saturday's OT loss to Elmira, overcoming a late deficit to defeat the Jackals, 5-4, Wednesday night at the Sun National Bank Center.

The Titans (11-11-2-2, 26 pts) are now back at .500 after earning 7 of a possible 8 points on a four-game home stand, and climb to within a point of the Jackals (12-11-1-2, 27 pts), in the Atlantic Division standings.

The teams battled through a scoreless first, trading big hits and scoring chances - including two hit posts for the home team - and ending the period tied with nine shots on goal each.

The goal drought wouldn't last long into the second, however, as Jacob Drewiske was rewarded for crashing the net, finding a loose puck and jamming a rebound past Marc Cheverie (8-7-0-1, 27 saves) for his fourth goal of the year to give the Titans a 1-0 lead. Ryan Grimshaw and Kory Nagy were credited with assists on the goal.

The Jackals quickly returned fire, with Kevin Harvey beating Scott Wedgewood (8-7-2, 26 saves) just 38 seconds later. Elmira forward Justin Daniels followed up later in the period by putting his own rebound past the Trenton netminder to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Late in the second, after killing of a Jackals power play, The Titans were granted a man-advantage of their own when Justin DaCosta was sent off for slashing. Marcel Noebels took full advantage of the opportunity, blasting a rocket by Cheverie from the top of the left circle to tie the game at two, sending both Cheverie's water bottle flying and the teams to the locker room tied at two. Matt Mangene earned an assist on Noebel's ninth goal of the year.

It was the only special teams goal of the night, as the Titans shut down the league's third-best power play unit, allowing the Jackals just 3 opportunities on the man-advantage. The Titans cashed in on one of their two extra-man chances of the night.

The back-and-forth theme would continue in the third, beginning with an Artem Demkov rebound goal to give the Jackals another lead, this time at 3-2. This time it was Trenton's turn for a quick answer, as Ryan Grimshaw launched a one-timer that beat Cheverie over the shoulder to tie the game at three less than a minute after Demkov's goal. It was Grimshaw's second of the year, with assists from Jacob Cepis and Phil DeSimone, who scored his first point in his first game as a Titan, after arriving earlier in the day on a loan from Albany (AHL).

The celebration was short lived for Trenton, because Louie Caporusso had yet another answer for Elmira, putting a shot past Wedgewood to put the Jackals up 4-3.

The Titans weren't done yet though, and were granted new life with under four minutes to play by the newly acquired DeSimone, who squeezed a wrist shot through Cheverie to tie the game at four. DeSimone earned two points, a goal and an assist, in his Titans debut. Marcel Alvarez and Cepis were credited with helpers on the play.

That goal sparked some late-game magic for the home team, and just 29 seconds later Trenton struck again. Captain Andy Bombach scored his team-leading twelfth of the year to put the home team up for good, with his third game-winning goal of the season. "Bomber", who also leads the team in assists, has recorded at least one point in three straight games and has six points (3G, 3A) in seven games since being named team captain.

Wedgewood, who made several highlight-reel saves throughout the game, and the defense were able to hold off a late barrage from the Jackals to seal the victory.

Trenton narrowly edged out Elmira in shots, 32-30, to improve to 7-3-1 when they outshoot their opponents.

The Titans now hit the road for games at Evansville and Fort Wayne this weekend, and will attempt to climb over .500 for the first time since early November. Friday's game against the IceMen is set for a 7:15 CST (8:15 Eastern) start, while Saturday's game will get underway at 7:30 pm. As with all Titans games, those contests can be heard on the home of the Titans, 107.7 FM "The Bronc", or online at 1077thebronc.com with the voice of the Titans, "The Bronc" Daryle Dobos.

The Titans then return home after a short holiday break with home games on the 27th and 29th, part of a three-game-in-three-night set against archrival Reading.

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