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Titans Top Royals in OT, 2-1, in Battle of ECHL's Hottest Teams

December 27, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Titans News Release


Trenton, NJ - The Titans, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, came from behind to defeat Reading, 2-1, in overtime Thursday night at the Sun National Bank Center, fueled by a Marcel Noebels power play winner and a 29 save performance from Scott Wedgewood.

The Titans have now won five straight contests, their longest winning streak since the end of the 2010-11 season, and extend their points streak to seven games, the club's longest streak since the close of the 2008-09 campaign.

With the victory, the Titans (14-11-2-2, 32 points) took the first of a three-game weekend set from the Atlantic Division-rival Royals (21-7-1-1, 44 pts) snapping Reading's eight-game winning streak overall and five-game run over the Titans.

The teams skated to a scoreless first intermission, highlighted by two fights in the final five minutes. Reading outshot the home team 12-9 in the opening stanza.

Defenseman Adam Comrie scored the lone goal for Reading early in the second, beating Scott Wedgewood (10-7-2, 29 saves) to the post on a wrap-around attempt to give the Royals a 1-0 lead just 2:46 into the period. A feisty second period followed, though neither side could find the back of the net the rest of the way.

The game intensified with the start of the third, as the teams traded scoring chances and hits the way only division rivals can. Trenton finally solved Philipp Grubauer (17-4-1, 29 saves) with just under seven minutes left in the contest, when a Ryan Grimshaw shot through traffic found the top right corner to pull the Titans even. Grimshaw's third goal of the year was assisted by Ian Slater and Kory Nagy.

After a few tense moments, including a late rally by the Royals and penalties by both sides in the final two minutes, the third period horn sounded with the score still knotted at one.

The Titans opened the overtime on a power play that carried over from regulation after Joel Champagne took a penalty in the final 1:20 for tripping. Trenton's Marcel Noebels needed just 26 seconds of overtime to light the lamp, securing the victory for the home team and propelling the Titans to their fifth-straight win. They are now 3-5 against Reading this season, having taken the first two matchups before dropping five consecutive contests to the Royals in a span of nine days in early November.

Trenton held a slight advantage in shots, 31-30, and went 1-for-5 on the power play. The Titans' penalty killing was perfect, shutting out Reading on all five of their man advantages. Trenton's penalty kill is now operating at 84% for the season and has shut down 30 straight man advantage chances for the Royals.

Noebels has now scored in seven straight games, and has recorded points in 11-of-12 contests in the month of December. Marcel's 27thpoint of the season (11 G, 16 A) pulls him into a three-way tie for the lead in rookie scoring with San Francisco's Dean Oullet and Stockton's Justin Maylan.

The Titans and Royals have a quick turnaround, as they head to Reading for another meeting tomorrow night, before returning to Trenton Saturday evening to complete the home-home-and home weekend series. Both of those games are slated for 7:05 pm face-offs. As always, those games can be heard on the home of the Titans, 107.7 FM The Bronc, or on 1077thebronc.com with the voice of the Titans, "The Bronc", Daryle Dobos.

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