Reading Royals

Being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Trenton Titans have had only two goals; play spoiler to other teams in the playoff race, and try to catch the Bakersfield Condors and not be the worst team in the entire ECHL.

Sadly, they would do neither as the Reading Royals beat Trenton 7-0.

Coach Vince Williams has noted that the team is looking ahead to next season saying.

“You’re seeing what guys are made of,” he said. “You gotta earn what you’re gonna get. That’s how it should be.”

Having gone 3-1-1 in their last five games with slim playoff hopes alive, the Trenton Titans hosted the Reading Royals Wednesday night at the Sun Center. Titans Coach Vince Williams decided to ride the hot hand by starting Brad Phillips again in goal. Phillips had allowed one goal in each of his last two starts, both wins.

In what has become Trenton-typical this season, the Titans allowed the first goal at 11:18 as Olivier Labelle set a screen in front of Phillips and a Yannick Tifu shot bounced off Labelle. The deflection went past Phillips to give the Royals the lead at 1-0.

Late in the period, Ryan Hayes answered right back for Trenton as he stole the puck in the offensive zone from a Royals defensemen and fired a quick shot on net. The shot beat goalie Karel St. Laurent to tie the game with just over a minute left.

The Trenton Titans must have hit the snooze button Wednesday morning. In an unusual 11 a.m. start, the Titans found themselves in a quick hole.

Goals by Royals defenseman Derrick LaPoint and center Matt Caruana led to a two-goal deficit only seven minutes into the game.

Luckily for Trenton (16-25-8), Dustin Cameron (1st star) was able to carry the load in the first period and not let things get out of hand. Cameron put in a Ray DiLauro pass at the 7:57 mark on a power play to make it a one-goal game.

The Titans play was sloppy, especially against a Reading team that thrives on power plays and pushing the puck. Trenton was unable to maintain the puck, which the Royals took advantage of. Andy Bohmbach explained problems the Titans’ had in the first period.

“We got lulled into their style of play,” Bohmbach said. “They like to go up and down, it’s kind of a free for all. It doesn’t suit our style. We like to get the puck in deep and grind on their defenseman. We got away from that.”