Titans take three of four on road

Published on March 21, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Titans took three of four games during their four-game, seven-day road trip and find themselves right in the thick of the logjam that is the North Division.

The Titans were able to hold off a Charlotte Checkers comeback in a 5-3 victory at Cricket Arena on Tuesday, but then saw their three-game, winning streak come to an end in a 5-3 loss to the Toledo Storm on Friday.

Trenton rebounded on the back-end of the series against Toledo with a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday. The Titans used the extra session against to clinch a 2-1 win over the Reading Royals on Sunday.

Trenton is now alone in third place in the North with 77 points, one point ahead of the Wheeling Nailers trailing the Reading Royals by two.

The Titans return to Sovereign Bank Arena for two games as they conclude the season-series with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies on Friday at 7:30pm and the Reading Royals on Saturday at 7:00pm.

LAST WEEK: 3-1-0
Tuesday, March 15 @ Charlotte - W 5-3
Cricket Arena
- Leon Hayward lit the lamp with 1:45 left in regulation for his second goal of the night and the eventual game-winner in a 5-3 triumph over the Charlotte Checkers. The Titans tallied three goals in the first period against the Checkers for the second time this season on tallies by Hayward, Jarrett Thompson and Jeff Smith. Charlotte would chip away at Trenton's cushion and tied the score 3-3 on Brian Escobedo's sixth of the season coming at 8:30 of the third.

Friday, March 18 @ Toledo, L 5-3
Toledo Sports Arena
- Scott Bertoli's second hat trick of the season could not help the Titans extend their winning streak to four games in a 5-3 loss to the Toledo Storm. On a night where Toledo went 3-of-6 on the power play, five different Storm players put the puck past Andrew Allen as Toledo never trailed in the contest. Allen stopped 17 of 22 in suffering his first loss since March 6.

Saturday, March 19 @ Toledo, W 3-2 (OT)
Toledo Sports Arena
- Michael Schutte scored the game-winner with fifty seconds remaining in overtime as the Titans rebounded with a 3-2 victory over the Toledo Storm. Trenton was able to jump out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Rosario Ruggeri and Nick Deschenes, but Toledo battled back with a power-play tally by Doug Andress and an even strength marker from Carl Mallette. Chris Houle tied his own Titans, season-high with 48 saves on the evening.

Sunday, March 20 @ Reading, W 2-1 (OT)
Sovereign Center
- The Titans used overtime to get the win for the second consecutive game as Matt Libby notched his 4th of the year 2:47 into the extra session. Jeff Smith broke a scoreless tie with a breakaway goal at 15:58 of the first period. Graig Mischler tied the score for the Royals with his 9th of the year coming with 4:59 remaining in the second period. Andrew Allen registered his 22nd win of the season as the turned away all but one of 34 shots by Reading.

THIS WEEK:
Friday, March 25 vs. Atlantic City, 7:30pm -91.3FM-WTSR
Sovereign Bank Arena
- The final game in the ten-game season series and the deciding game for the Garden State Cup. This contest also marks the last ever, regular season match-up between the intra-state rivals. The Titans are 4-3-2 against the Bullies this year and can clinch the Garden State Cup with a regulation win. The Titans are 20-14-5 versus Atlantic City all-time.

Saturday, March 26 vs. Reading, 7:00pm - 91.3FM-WTSR
Sovereign Bank Arena
- The last match-up of the year versus the Royals. Andrew Allen is 6-2-0 against Reading this season with a 1.96 GAA and a .936 save percentage. The Titans lead the season series and 6-3-0 and the all-time series 24-8-6.

Practice/Game Schedule:
Tuesday, March 22 - Day off
Wednesday, March 23 - Day off
Thursday, March 24 - Practice @ Sovereign Bank Arena - 10:30pm
Friday, March 25 - Pre-game skate @ Sovereign Bank Arena - 10:00am
Game vs. Atlantic City - 7:30pm
Saturday, March 26 - Pre-game skate @ Sovereign Bank Arena - 10:00am
Game vs. Reading - 7:00pm
Sunday, March 27 - Day off
Monday, March 28- Practice @ Sovereign Bank Arena - 10:30pm

TITANS BROADCAST INFO:
Tune in as the voice of the Titans, Mike O'Brien brings you all of the Titans hockey action on WHWH-Money Talk 1350 AM on Sunday through Thursday and WSTR-91.3 FM on Friday and Saturday. Fans can also watch or listen in on the Titans website, www.trentontitans.com.

B2 Networks also brings you live action for over 50 Titans hockey games. Go to www.trentontitans.com and click the Watch the Game Live icon to view and listen to the game. These broadcasts are available for a charge of $6 per game. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

Titans Notables
· Chris Houle tied his own Titans season-high with 48 saves against the Toledo Storm on Saturday.
· Scott Bertoli is now tied for 8th in ECHL scoring with 62 points.
· Bertoli has points in 10 of his last 12 games (6g, 16a).
· Nick Deschenes has the highest, active, home-point streak in the ECHL with 10 games (9g, 10a).
· Trenton is one of six teams in the ECHL to have not lost in regulation when leading after two periods (22-0-3).
· Houle appeared in his 50th game as Titan on Saturday.
· Andrew Allen is one away from this 50th win in a Titans uniform.

In the Community:
March 21
· Along the Boards returns to Hooters on Monday, March 21 at 7:00pm. Join the Voice of the Trenton Titans, Mike O'Brien and his guest #27 Rick Kowalsky as they talk Titans' hockey. Hooters is located in the Mercer Mall on Route 1 in Princeton, NJ. Along the Boards can be heard on MoneyTalk 1350AM.

March 23
· The Trenton Titans are hosting their 2nd annual Tip-A-Titan Dinner on Wednesday, 7pm - 9pm, at Triumph Brewery in Princeton, NJ. Titans players will be acting as waiters and bartenders for the evening as they collect "tips" to benefit Shots-4-Tots and the Butterfly Foundation. Trenton Titans memorabilia will also be available at the event for raffle and auction.

March 25
· The Trenton Titans are hosting their annual Titans Easter Egg Auction during their game against the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies on Friday at 7:30pm. During a silent auction on the concourse, fans will have chance to bid on Easter eggs painted and signed by Titans players. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Shots-4-Tots.

· The first 5,000 fans will receive posters, courtesy of White Eagle Printing, commemorating the rivalry between the Trenton Titans and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.

March 26
· The first 2,000 fans will receive sun visors courtesy of Mercer County Community College.

Leaders:
Goals: Scott Bertoli - 24
Assists: Scott Bertoli - 38
Points: Scott Bertoli - 62
Plus/Minus: Nick Deschenes - +20
PIM: Matt Zultek - 200
Wins: Andrew Allen - 22
GAA: Andrew Allen - 2.51
Save Pct.: Andrew Allen, Chris Houle - .910

Team Stats:
Record: 34-20-9, 77 pts (3rd, North Division)
Home: 19-8-4
Away: 15-12-5
Power Play: 50 for 283- 17.7% (8th)
Penalty Kill: 252 for 306 - 82.3% (19th)

Transactions:
03/14/2005 Add MATT ZULTEK (LW) returned from Manitoba (AHL)
03/14/2005 Add BLAKE PICKETT (D) signed contract
03/17/2005 Add CHRIS CHAPUT (F) signed contract
03/19/2005 Add LES HAGGETT (F) signed contract

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ECHL Stories from March 21, 2005


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