Twin Killing

December 20, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


ATLANTIC CITY - WEEK RECORD: 2-1-0 - SEASON RECORD: 16-6-4 - 1st NORTH DIVISION

BULLIES REWIND: The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies earned four out of six points for a second consecutive week with a 4-2 win at Reading Friday and a 3-2 shootout win at Johnstown Sunday. The Bullies fell 4-2 at Trenton Saturday. With 36 points through their first 26 games, Atlantic City has the highest point total in the ECHL and can finish no worse than tied for first in both the North Division and National Conference heading into the holiday break.

Friday, Paul Caponigri scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal with a slap shot from the right-wing circle at 11:56 of the third period and goaltender Jake Moreland set a career-high with 43 saves to lead the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a 4-2 win over the Reading Royals before 5865 at the Sovereign Center. Jason Notermann opened the scoring for Atlantic City (15-5-4) 44 seconds into the second period when he ripped a wrist shot from the right-wing circle over the shoulder of Reading goaltender Matt Yeats to give the Bullies a 1-0 lead. Brad Both gave the Bullies a 2-0 advantage when he collected the bouncing puck at the left-wing circle and ripped a shot top shelf past Yeats at 2:47 of the third period. The Royals (11-8-0) would break through just 31 seconds after the goal. Jon Francisco beat Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland through the pads at 3:18 to cut the deficit to 2-1. Ian Turner netted the equalizer with a power play goal at 6:41 from Jeff Miles to tie the game 2-2. After Caponigri gave the Bullies the lead, Derek Edwardson sealed the win with a slap shot from the right-circle by Yeats at 17:39 of the period to make the final 4-2. Reading out-shot the Bullies 45-22. Moreland earned his 13th win of the season. Atlantic City went 0-3 on the power play.

Saturday, Scott Bertoli tallied a pair of goals to lead the Trenton Titans to a 4-2 victory over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies at Sovereign Bank Arena. Trenton (15-4-4) opened the scoring with a pair of goals in the first period. Bertoli beat Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland from the right-wing circle at 3:52 to give the Titans a 1-0 lead. Jerramie Domish gave Trenton a 2-0 advantage as he corralled Rick Kowalsky's rebound at the left-wing circle and slipped the puck past Moreland at 9:24 of the period on the power play. Bertoli netted his second goal of the game, firing a slap shot from the right-wing circle past Moreland at 6:02 of the second period on the power play to give Trenton a 3-0 advantage. The Bullies (15-6-4) would counter with two goals to start the third period. Jason Notermann deflected Eric Nelson's point shot past Trenton goalie Chris Houle at 3:54 to cut the deficit to 3-1. Luke Curtin got the Bullies to within a goal at 3-2 when his shot from the blue line beat Houle under the blocker at 10:00 of the period. However, Trenton would answer as Bryce Cockburn at the top of Moreland's crease tipped the puck underneath Moreland's left pad at 14:52 to silence the Bullies. Atlantic City out-shot Trenton 27-19. Moreland stopped 15 shots in falling to 13-4-3 on the year. The Bullies went 0-6 on the power play.

Sunday, Kelsey Muench tallied a pair of goals and goaltender Jake Moreland stopped all five shooters in the shootout to lead the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a 3-2 shootout win over the Johnstown Chiefs before 1,727 at the Cambria County War Memorial. Muench opened the scoring for the Bullies (16-6-4) at 7:52 of the first period, taking a beautiful cross-ice pass from Derek Edwardson and beating Johnstown goalie David Currie from the left-wing circle to give Atlantic City a 1-0 lead. Johnstown (10-5-9) countered with two special teams goals in the second period to take the lead. Joe Tallari beat Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland along the ice with a shorthanded goal at 4:02 to tie the game at 1-1. Jean Desroschers gave the Chiefs their first lead of the night with a power play goal, placing a backhand shot through Moreland's pads at 16:34 of the period for a 2-1 advantage. Muench netted the equalizer with his second goal of the game at 5:58 to tie the score 2-2. Paul Caponigri tallied the only goal of shootout in the third round to lift the Bullies to the win. Johnstown out-shot Atlantic City 43-30. Moreland stopped 41 shots to earn his 14th win of the season. The Bullies went 0-5 on the power play.

BULLIES "TOP DAWG" AWARD: Each Monday from now until the end of the season, Public Relations and Broadcasting Manager Dan Weiss will select the Bullies "Top Dawg" for the week. This week's winner is forward Kelsey Muench who notched his first multiple goal game Sunday in the win at Johnstown and added two assists in Friday's victory at Reading. Honorable mention goes out to Jake Moreland who made a career-high 43 saves Friday and stopped a total of 99 shots this weekend.

POINT TAKEN: Saturday's regulation loss at Trenton marked just the second time in the previous 17 games that the Bullies had failed to capture at least a point. Ironically, it also marked just the second time this year that Trenton had won at home in regulation. With their shootout win Sunday at Johnstown, Atlantic City is now 13-2-3 in their last 18 games.

LET'S GET IT STARTED: When Trenton's Scott Bertoli scored the game's first goal and the Titans took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission on Saturday, it was just the sixth time this season that Atlantic City did not record the opening goal and just the 10th time that the Bullies failed to hold a lead at the end of the first period. Atlantic City has scored the first goal more than any team in the ECHL and is 15-3-2 when they score first. Likewise, the Bullies have led at the end of the first period more than any other team in the ECHL and are 12-1-3 when taking a lead into the first intermission. Atlantic City has outscored their opponents 30-14 in first periods this year.

THE ENERGIZER BUNNY: Goaltender Jake Moreland continued to extend upon a club record with his 20th consecutive start Sunday at Johnstown. Moreland is 13-4-3 over that time. The Grand Forks, ND native has also been ambushed by the opposition as of late. Moreland has faced 30 or more shots in seven out of the last eight games, including an average of 38 in his previous four starts. Moreland is 14-4-3 in 22 starts with a 2.38 goals against average and a .927% save percentage.

POWER PLAY POWERLESS: The Bullies power play has failed to record a goal in a season-long five consecutive games. Atlantic City is 0 for their last 19 on the power play and 1 for their last 26 (3.8%) on the power play away from Historic Boardwalk Hall. Consequently, the Bullies penalty kill has surrendered a power play goal in five out of the last six games and is 19-26 (73%) over that span. Atlantic City's power play ranks tied for 11th in the ECHL at 16.5% while the penalty kill ranks 18th at 83.8%.

DIVISIONAL DECEMBER CONTINUES: The Bullies are in the midst of their third longest stretch of games against North Division opponents. With the new balanced schedule, Atlantic City will play the entire months of December, February, and April strictly against divisional rivals. In this current stretch of 16 straight games against North Division teams dating back to November 27 at Trenton, the Bullies are 5-2-2 over their first nine. Atlantic City is 10-5-4 against the North Division.

BACK IN THE FACE-OFF CIRCLE AGAINST KIDS CANCER: The Bullies have once again joined area kids in their fight against cancer with the Second Annual "Face-Off Against Kids Cancer" program. The next event, the "Sunday Sundae Social," is scheduled for Sunday, January 9 from 1PM-3PM at the Egg Harbor City Volunteer Ambulance Facility in Egg Harbor City. On Friday, January 28 and Sunday, January 30, the Bullies will wear special commemorative jerseys dedicated to the program that will eventually be auctioned off. The proceeds from that auction will benefit Caps For Kids, A.I. duPont Hospital For Children in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

QUEST FOR THE CUP CONTINUES: "Quest For the Cup", the Bullies weekly radio show, continues tonight from 7PM-8PM on ESPN Radio 1450AM and the SurferNetwork live from Maloney's Uptown Sports Bar & Grill at 142 S. Tennessee Avenue in Atlantic City. Tonight, Bullies Assistant General Manager and Director of Sales & Marketing Joe Harrington joins Dan Weiss for the entire hour to discuss upcoming Bullies promotions, including the New Year's Eve game.

POWER PLAY FOR UNITED WAY: For a second consecutive season, the Bullies have teamed up with United Way to support the Power Play For United Way. For every power play goal the Bullies score in 2004-05, area businesses including Baumgardner Construction, RLS CopiScan, AtlantiCare, Sands Casino Hotel, and Glenn Insurance will donate $10 to the United Way of Atlantic County. So far, the Bullies have tallied 21 power play goals, good for $1050 towards Power Play For United Way.

WATCH THE BULLIES LIVE IN '04-05: The Bullies have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Boardwalk Bullies hockey in 2004-05. Bullies fans will be able to click the Watch the Game Live icon at the Bullies website to view and listen to the game. These broadcasts are available to fans for a charge of $6 per game. All 36 Bullies home broadcasts will be available in addition to over 20 road games in Trenton, Reading, Johnstown, and Wheeling. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The Bullies begin their longest stretch away from the ice as the team takes a 10-day vacation beginning today. Atlantic City returns to Historic Boardwalk Hall at 7:05PM Wednesday, December 29 when they host the Dayton Bombers. Every Wednesday home game is "Wild Wednesday". All college students, casino workers, military and service industry personnel get in for just $6. Enjoy great beer specials all night for just $2! The first 2,500 people through the gates receive the first set of the Bullies 2004-05 Trading Cards sponsored by Copiers Plus. For more information or to order tickets, call (609) 348-PUCK.

It's your last chance in 2004 to catch the Boardwalk Bullies! Atlantic City hosts the Trenton Titans at 2:05PM on Friday, December 31 at Historic Boardwalk Hall. Following the game, join the Bullies and ring in 2005 with a special balloon drop on the main concourse for a chance to win hundreds of prizes. Also enjoy live music featuring the band Hampton Wick and a post-game skate with the Bullies. The first 2,000 people through the gates receive a special "Coozie" courtesy of Canal's Discount Liquor Mart For more information or to order tickets, call (609) 348-PUCK.



ECHL Stories from December 20, 2004


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