Titans pull into tie for division lead

January 29, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Titans (20-14-5) battled through a tough stretch, going 1-1-2, including a 5-4 win on Sunday against the Reading Royals to pull into a tie for first place in the North Division with the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Titans opened the week on Wednesday with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Johnstown Chiefs before finishing their homestand on Friday with a defeat, 7-4, at the hands of the Augusta Lynx. Trenton traveled to Wheeling the next day and came away with a point versus the Nailers after losing in the shootout, 3-2. The Titans will now play their next six games on the road with four games this week against their three division rivals in Ohio.

JOLTED BY JOHNSTOWN: Trenton could not hold onto two three-goal leads as the Johnstown Chiefs came storming back to defeat the Titans 5-4 in the shootout on Wednesday at the Sovereign Bank Arena. Bolstered by the insertion of goaltender Morgan Cey for the third period, the Chiefs - down 4-2 - tied the score as Doug Andress and John Adams scored three minutes apart. Cey would deny the Titans on all 7 shots he faced through the third period and overtime and stop 7-of-9 in the shootout. In his first shootout attempt of the season, Chiefs' defenseman P.J. Atherton clinched the victory scoring in the bottom half of round nine.

WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK: A five-goal third period by the Augusta Lynx sunk the Trenton Titans, 7-4, Friday at the SBA. The Titans led once again heading into final period of regulation, but the Lynx would only need twenty-four seconds to tie the score 3-3 when Louis Goulet found Mike Erickson alone on the near circle. Mike Pandolfo allowed the Titans to respond at 1:58, but Augusta knotted the score again fifty seconds later when Weston Tardy's point shot found the back of the net. From there, it was all Lynx. Sean Blanchard's power play goal at 6:48 of the third proved to be the game-winner as Garrett Bembridge and Brian Passmore helped put the game away for Augusta.

WHEELING WHEELS WIN: The Trenton Titans battled back to take the lead in the third period only to fall in the shootout to the Wheeling Nailers, 3-2, at the WesBanco Arena. Jim Henkel broke across the blueline and hit a streaking Riddle who fired the wrist shot into the back of the net at 12:13 for a power play goal that gave Trenton its first lead of the game. That lead lasted all of thirty-one seconds as Vin Hellemeyer scored to tie it 2-2. After a scoreless overtime, Andy Franck helped clinch the win for Wheeling denying all four shooters for Trenton while Hellemeyer and Joe Guenther converted for the Nailers.

ROYAL REBOUND: The Titans were able to fend off a late rally by the Reading Royals to come away with a 5-4 win at the Sovereign Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. Trenton took a 4-2 lead into the third period thanks to a shorthanded goal by John Laliberte and Gino Pisellini's first marker in a Titans' uniform. Greg Hogeboom got the Royals back within one as he took a feed from Shawn Collymore and released a wrist shot that found the top corner at 9:01. The Titans would push their cushion back to two goals when Scott Bertoli lit the lamp on a breakaway with 6:52 left in regulation. The Royals made it interesting as Hogeboom picked up his third goal of the night at 14:57. With Reading skating on a 6-on-4 power play late in the game, Trenton would deny them their chance to tie things up and hold on for the win.

ROAD WORK: The Titans hit the highway for their second six-game road trip of the season. Trenton owns the second best road record in the North Division at 8-7-2, and is 3-1-1 in their last five games away from the Sovereign Bank Arena. They are also tied with Johnstown for the division lead with 60 goals scored on the road. The Titans start the week on Wednesday in Toledo before playing Cincinnati on Friday and Sunday with a match-up against Dayton on Saturday.

CHANGES A-COMIN': The Titans bolstered their blueline corps with the acquisition of two former Wheeling Nailers. Last Wednesday, Trenton sent Peter Tormey to the Texas Wildcatters in exchange for Luis Tremblay. Tremblay - who made his Titans debut on Sunday - was the Nailers second leading defensive scorer last season with 30 points (14g, 16a). The Titans also picked up Jake Ortmeyer from the Phoenix Roadrunners in return for Chris Cava. Ortmeyer led the ECHL with a +35 plus/minus rating in 2003-04. Also, Trenton received Gino Pisellini on Wednesday from the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL). The rookie forward picked up his first goal in a Titans uniform on Sunday against the Royals.

STREAKS: Jim Henkel is currently riding a six-game point streak during which he has totaled 2 goals and 5 assists. Troy Riddle has also recorded points in four straight, putting up 6 points (3g, 3a). Rookie defenseman Jay Pemberton registered his first two multi-point games; gathering two assists each in back-to-back contests.

QUICK HITS: Gregg Naumenko is one away from his 100th pro win...The Titans are 9-0-1 when Troy Riddle has a multi-point game...The Titans had notched power play goals in five straight games before going 0-for-6 on Sunday against Reading...Mike Pandolfo still leads the league with 30 goals and ranks second in the ECHL with 14 power play goals.

ALONG THE BOARDS: "Along the Boards," the Trenton Titans' weekly talk radio show is on hiatus until Wednesday, February 7 at 7pm when it returns to the Morrisville Tavern. "Along the Boards" can also be heard on WBCB-1490AM. Morrisville Tavern is located at 376 West Trenton Ave. in Morrisville, PA.

UPCOMING GAMES

Wednesday, February 1, 7:00pm - Titans @ Toledo Storm

The Titans take on the hottest team in the North Division as the Toledo Storm come into the game having won their last five matches. Trenton is 1-1-0 against Toledo at the Sports Arena, but the Storm are an astounding 16-5-0. Former Titan Matt Zultek leads the Storm with 31 points (13g, 18a).

Friday, February 2, 7:35pm - Titans @ Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday, February 4, 12:00pm - Titans @ Cincinnati Cyclones

This will be Trenton's second trip to Cincinnati this season. The Titans have defeated the Cyclones in their previous two games including a 5-1 victory on January 10 at the USBank Arena. Cincinnati has allowed the third fewest goals in the ECHL (100), while goaltender Cedric Desjardins is fifth in the league with a .922 save percentage. The Titans lead the all-time series 8-1-1.

Saturday, February 3, 7:00pm - Titans @ Dayton Bombers

This is the second game out of five between the Titans and Bombers at the Nutter Center. Trenton took the previous contest, a 4-2 decision on Dayton' s home ice on January 7. The Bombers lead the league in fewest goals against with 93, with Adam Berkhoel's 2.19 goals against average ranking second in the ECHL. Dayton has won four of their last six games. The Titans are 3-2-2 against the Bombers this season.

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 January 29, 2007


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