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Titans' magic number at eight with six to play

March 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Titans fought off a three-game losing streak and claimed victory in their final game of the weekend to maintain their spot in fourth place in the North Division. The Titans opened the week with a loss, 4-3, to the Johnstown Chiefs. Trenton's woes continued on Friday and Saturday, falling to the Wheeling Nailers, 4-2, and Cincinnati Cyclones, 5-2. The Titans were able to stop their mini-slide and find some redemption on Sunday in defeating the Cyclones, 5-2. Trenton now stands at 32-29-5 with six games remaining in their regular season schedule. The team will hit the road for the next three contests, facing Reading on Wednesday, Toledo on Saturday and Dayton on Sunday.

JOHNSTOWN JOLTS TITANS: It took just 62 seconds for Zbynek Hdrel to score and give the Johnstown Chiefs a lead, which they would never relinquish in downing the Titans, 4-2. After Maxim Boisclair made the score 2-0 later in the first, Benoit Mondou notched a power play goal to keep Trenton within one after one. Les Haggett completed a pretty 3-on-2 to tie the score, 2-2, at 7:02 of the second, but Gus Katsuras allowed Johnstown to take the lead for good with a slapshot from the blueline that found the back of the net with 2:18 left until the break. Scott Bertoli and Dmitri Tarabrin traded goals in the third to complete the scoring.

SPIKED BY THE NAILERS: The Wheeling Nailers gathered the first three goals of the game and never trailed in a 4-2 win over the Titans at WesBanco Arena. Sean Collins potted the first of his two goals on the night at 11:34 of the second period to make it 3-0 in favor of Wheeling. Trenton would battle back within one later in the frame on markers by Luis Tremblay and Mark Pandolfo over a span of 2:30. With the Titans on the power play before the intermission and poised to tie the contest, Trenton instead fell further behind on Collins' shorthanded tally with 1:23 left until the break and were never able to recover.

CINCY STUNS TRENTON: For their third game in a row, the Titans found themselves at an early deficit from which they could not comeback in a 5-2 loss against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Down 2-0 in the first, Trenton would once again fight back beginning with a power play goal by Scott Bertoli at 9:47 of the opening period. Tony Zancanaro tied the score midway through the second, lighting the lamp on the man-advantage, but Conrad Martin gave the Cyclones the lead for good under three minutes later with a power play goal.

SWEET REVENGE VERSUS CYCLONES: The top line of Scott Bertoli (2g, 1a), Les Haggett (1g, 3a) and Benoit Mondou (2g, 2a) combined for 11 points (5g, 6a) in a 5-2 victory for Trenton over Cincinnati. Tied 1-1 in the second, Mondou's goal at 5:04 gave the Titans their first lead of the game. After Mike Wirll knotted the contest at 2-2 later in the period, Mondou quickly responded with a snapshot from the high slot at 12:01 that proved to be the eventual game-winner. Bertoli added two goals in the final frame to provide some insurance for Trenton, while goaltender Gregg Naumenko gathered his 20th win.

PLAYOFF PUSH: With their win on Sunday and two Johnstown losses, the Titans ' magic number was lowered to eight. Any combination of eight points gained by Trenton or lost by Johnstown will result in a spot in the playoffs for the Titans. Trenton has six games (2 home, 4 away) remaining in the regular season schedule: 2 against Wheeling (1 home, 1 away), 2 versus Reading (1 home, 1 away) and one road game each against Dayton and Toledo. Any combination of nine points gained by Trenton or lost by Reading will ensure that the Royals will not overtake the Titans in the standings.

MON DIEU, MONDOU...AGAIN: Benoit Mondou extended his scoring streak to nine games with eight points (3g, 5a) over four matches this week. Though Mondou saw his six-game goal-scoring streak come to end on Friday against Wheeling, he continued to put up points with an assist in the contest. The rookie forward went on to tie a Titans season-high and register a pro career best with four-points (2g, 2a) on Sunday against Cincinnati. Mondou recorded two multi-point games during the week to lift his season total to 11, in which the Titans are 9-2-0. He is now tied for fifth among rookies with 48 points (22g, 26a).

QUICK HITS: The line of Bertoli, Haggett and Mondou were a combined +12 on Sunday against the Cyclones...Tony Zancanaro scored the first goal of his professional career in the Titans' loss to Cincinnati on Saturday...The Titans are 26-4-2 when scoring four or more goals...The Titans have held the opposition to two goals or less in nine of their last ten wins

ALONG THE BOARDS: "Along the Boards," the Trenton Titans' weekly talk radio show, will be at the Sportsmen's pub on Tuesday, March 27 at 7pm. This week 's guests will be #14 Luis Tremblay. "Along the Boards" can be heard on WBCB-1490AM following The Bill Clement Show. Sportmen's Pub is located at 819 Lalor Street in Hamilton Township, NJ.

UPCOMING GAMES

Wednesday, March 28, 6:35pm - Titans @ Reading Royals

This will be last game for the Titans at the Sovereign Center during the regular season. The Royals are winless in their last three contests (0-2-1) and stand two points behind the Titans in the standings. Joe Zappala has helped lead the Royals offense with an eight-game scoring streak (5g, 6a). He is also tied in scoring alongside fellow rookie Mondou with 48 points (21g, 27a). Trenton is 5-5-0 against Reading this season, but has dropped the last three decisions at the Sovereign Center.

Saturday, March 31, 7:35pm - Titans @ Toledo Storm

This game marks the final regular season meeting between Trenton and Toledo. The Storm have recorded five points (2-0-1) in their last three games to pull ahead of the Titans into third place in the North Division standings. Toledo owns the third-best record in the ECHL on home ice at 24-8-0. Netminder Logan Koopmans is 4-1-1 in his last six starts. Trenton trails the season series 4-5-0 and is 2-3-0 at the Toledo Sports Arena.

Sunday, April 1, 5:05pm - Titans @ Dayton Bombers

The Titans will visit the Nutter Center for the last game of the season series versus the Dayton Bombers. The Bombers became the first team in the North Division to clinch a playoff spot with their 3-2 win over Johnstown on Sunday. With the help of its five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1), Dayton has risen to the top of the standings. Terry Denike is 11-3-3 since being signed by the Bombers. The Titans are 3-1-0 on road this season against Dayton.

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.



ECHL Stories from March 26, 2007


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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