Titans Take OT Thriller

(PR) Trenton, NJ – The Titans, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, beat the Reading Royals, 3-2, in overtime on Friday night at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton. It was the twelfth meeting of the season between the rivals, with Reading holding the advantage so far, 7-5, with three of the Titans wins coming in the extra session.

After nearly 50 scoreless minutes that saw quality scoring chances and better saves at both ends, both teams found their scoring touch in the final 12 minutes of regulation. Trenton (19-23-3-3, 44 pts) finally solved Drew MacIntyre (5-3-1, 29 saves) when Mike Ullrich picked a loose puck out of a net mouth scramble and flipped it over the Reading netminder to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Jacob Cepis and Jesse Todd earned assists on Ullrich’s eighth of the year. The goal also extended Ullrich’s point streak to nine games (9G, 7A) which is the second longest active streak in the league (two tied at 10) and the longest of the year for the Titans.

Reading (31-12-3-3, 68 pts) responded quickly with Alex Berry tapping a pass by Cal Heeter (1-1, 39 saves) just 49 seconds later. Brian Haczyk reclaimed the lead for the Titans with 6:37 remaining with a power play goal, blasting in a perfect rebound when an Eric Baier shot bounced of McIntyre’s mask into the low slot.

The Royals again had an answer, this time from T.J. Syner, knotting the game at two with less than five minutes to play. Syner’s goal came right after the Titans killed off a late Royals power play. Trenton has now killed off 43 consecutive power plays against the Royals dating back to the second meeting of the season. The last Royals power play goal came at 15:03 of the first period on October 17th. The Titans’ PK was perfect against all four Reading opportunities, and the Titans power play went 1-for-4 on the night.

Neither team could find a game winner in the final minutes of regulation, but Ullrich needed just 1:40 of overtime to lift the Titans to their third overtime win in the last four games against Reading (and 4th consecutive OT win). Ullrich now has 16 points in 10 games as a Titan, beginning his nine-game point streak against Cincinnati on January 19th. The Banff, Alberta native also owns the longest active goal streak in the league at 5, with Elmira’s Louie Caporusso’s five-game streak ending tonight.

The Titans remain home tomorrow night to host the Kalamazoo Wings at 7:35 pm. The team will then head to Kalamazoo to complete a home-and-home on Thursday the 14th (7:00 pm) before games at Cincinnati Friday and Saturday, both at 7:35. As always, those games can be heard on the flagship station 107.7 FM The Bronc, or online at 1077thebronc.com with the voice of the Titans, “The Bronc” Daryle Dobos.
– 30 –