Game Preview: Hat Tricks at Binghamton Black Bears | Nov. 27, 2024

LAST TIME OUT

Aleksandr Gamzatov and Jonny Ruiz each scored twice and the Hat Tricks defeated the Binghamton Black Bears 7-4 to end a four-game skid at the Danbury Ice Arena on Saturday.

Gamzatov scored the game-winner at 1:26 in the second and had another in the first to become the second Hat Tricks skater this season with multiple two-goal outings, joining Chase Harwell with two. Gamzatov collected his third goal in the past four games and Gleb Bandurkin assisted on each.

Danbury potted three unanswered goals in the second against its Empire Division rival, which it had yet to take down in three games since its 4-3 shootout win in Binghamton on Nov. 2. The Hat Tricks improved to 3-0-2-1 when leading after two periods.

Noah Robinson, who made his Hat Tricks debut after arriving from Monroe via trade, gave Danbury a two-goal lead 2:50 into the second. Charlie Bedard tallied an assist on the goal in his season debut for the Hat Tricks.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Hat Tricks and Black Bears meet for the sixth time this season and the fourth game in a row, following Danbury’s first win in five games on Saturday. Scoring their most goals in a home game this season, the Hat Tricks took down the Black Bears 7-4, reducing their series deficit with Binghamton to 3-2. Through the first five matchups with the Black Bears, the Hat Tricks are 1-2-1-1.

In its loss to Binghamton on Nov. 16, Danbury fell 4-0 for its second shutout defeat. The night prior (Nov. 15) Gavin Yates’ goal midway through the second period was the difference in a 2-1 Binghamton win. Despite scoring 34 seconds in, Danbury did not find the back of the net again the rest of the weekend. 

The Hat Tricks secured their first win against the Black Bears this season in an eight-round shootout on Nov. 2, with defenseman Josh Labelle scoring the decisive goal and Conor McCollum going 8-for-8 in the shootout and 36-for-39 in the game.

On Oct. 25, Danbury lost in overtime despite leading 2-1 after two periods. Cameron Clark, recently loaned to the Roanoke Yard Rail Dawgs, netted the game-winning power play goal in the extra frame. All five goals in that contest came on special teams, including one shorthanded tally. 

Once their Wednesday battle finishes, the Hat Tricks and Black Bears will face off five more times this season—twice in Danbury and three games in Binghamton. The Hat Tricks host on Dec. 28. After that, the Empire Division foes will not meet again until March, when the Hat Tricks revisit the Black Bears on March 14 and March 28. On March 29, Danbury is back home versus the Black Bears for one game until it travels to Binghamton for one final time on April 11.

Last season, the Hat Tricks went just 1-10-2-5 against the Black Bears, with three wins coming in shootouts, two in overtime, and one in regulation. Danbury allowed a combined 74 goals to Binghamton in 18 games, which held the second-highest goal differential (+106) in both the regular season and the playoffs (+13). Currently, Danbury sits at 3-4-3-1 with 14 points, 14 behind the first-place Black Bears (7-2-1-3). Last season, the Hat Tricks finished with a 22-19-6-9 record in the regular season, 30 points behind Binghamton for first in the Empire Division.

ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS

Binghamton’s four-game win streak ended in Danbury on Saturday. Dropping just two of their last 10 games, the Black Bears’ lone defeats came against the Hat Tricks. Binghamton’s loss on Saturday marked the first time this season it scored at least four goals without registering a win.

The reigning Commissioner’s Cup champions, the Black Bears are second in the Empire Division with 28 points, one behind the Watertown Wolves, who have won six games in a row. Binghamton has won 10 of its first 13 games and holds the fifth-best goal differential (+15).

Forward Tyson Kirkby, Binghamton’s goals and assists leader, is second in the FPHL with 23 points (10g, 13a), despite not turning in any points on Saturday. The fourth-year forward holds eight multi-point outings this season. 

Four skaters, Kirkby, Gavin Yates, Donald Olivieri, and Austin Thompson, each have 12 or more points through Binghamton’s first 13 contests. With a three-assist night on Saturday, his first since the Black Bears’ 5-3 playoff win at Carolina on May 3, Yates brings in a three-game point streak. Additionally, Olivieri buried two power play goals on Saturday in a three-point effort giving him four points in the past two games and 12 in seven games this campaign.

The Empire Division leaders in goals scored last season (276), the Black Bears return six skaters with 82 combined points. They now lead the FPHL in power play goals (18) and lead Watertown by two. Having killed off its four penalties on Saturday, Binghamton now holds the fifth-best penalty kill (81%) in the league, but has allowed the fourth-most power play goals (12).

Second-year goalie Connor McAnanama is third in the FPHL in goals against average (2.08), tied for third in wins (5), and remains tied for second in shutouts with two in seven starts, but Nolan Egbert, who also has five wins, has started the last three games, all against Danbury. 

HAT TRICKS HEADLINES

The Hat Tricks start a six-game road trip Wednesday in Binghamton and look to take down the Black Bears on the road for the second time this season after their four-game losing streak ended on Saturday. Danbury attempts to put together its first winning streak after failing to do so through the first 11 games. Danbury’s best winning stretch of the season came with two victories in three games (Oct. 26–Nov. 2) when it netted 13 combined goals against Hudson Valley and Binghamton.

For the first time this season on Saturday, Danbury scored multiple goals against Binghamton in the first period and got its second win overall when scoring first.

Outshot by the Black Bears 42-40 on Saturday, the Hat Tricks are now 1-2-2-1 this season when recording fewer shots than their opponent. They have been outshot in each of their first five games against Binghamton and in six of the first 11 games of the season.

Danbury has started the first season of the Ruiz-Gonzalez coaching era with four wins in its first 11 contests, winning three times on the road, including twice against Binghamton. 

Forward Aleksandr Gamzatov has registered six points (3g, 3a) over the past four games and three points (2g, 1a) in five games versus Binghamton, to lead the team in scoring. 

CAPTAIN ENDS SCORING DROUGHT

In Saturday’s win against Binghamton, co-head coach and captain Jonny Ruiz scored 1:31 into the first period, ending Danbury’s five-period scoring drought (119:26), its longest of the season, and his personal scoreless stretch at six games. Ruiz’s two-goal night was his first since April 12 of last season and his 10th multi-goal outing since the start of last season. A fifth-year Hat Tricks forward, Ruiz leads the franchise in games played (212), points (277) and goals scored (150).

RUSSKIY LINE STEPS UP AGAIN

Russia natives Gleb Bandurkin and Aleksandr Gamzatov each had goals and assists on Saturday. Bandurkin, 24, scored his second goal in three games and also logged two assists. Gamzatov, 22, buried two goals for the second time this season dating back to the Hat Tricks’ first win of the season against Motor City on Oct. 19, which included the game-winner. 

ROBINSON SCORES IN DEBUT

Noah Robinson found the back of the net in his first game with Danbury on Saturday. The Mississauga, Ontario, native was acquired via trade from Monroe last week after providing three goals and one assist in four games for the Moccasins. Last season, Robinson played in two games for Elmira before registering 40 points (22g, 18a) in 52 games for Baton Rouge. Charlie Bedard, who Danbury also acquired from Monroe last week, was credited with the assist in his first game back in Danbury.

MC DEFEATS A FAMILIAR FOE

Winning for the first time in five games, Conor McCollum recorded 38 saves against Binghamton. The 27-year-old goalie entered Saturday’s matchup without a win since helping Danbury to its road shootout victory over the Black Bears on Nov. 2. The second-year netminder started six games in a row and faced 34 or more shots in five of them. Last season, McCollum led the FPHL with 24 wins in his first season of professional hockey.

POWER PLAY INCONSISTENCIES 

Over the past seven games, the Hat Tricks are just 2-for-44 on the power play (4.5%). Although the Hat Tricks scored a single-game-high seven goals on Saturday, they finished 0-for-4 on the man advantage. With no power play scoring since the second period of their loss to Watertown on Nov. 9, the Hat Tricks have scored the league’s fifth-fewest power play goals with nine, and five of them came in one game (Oct. 25 at Hudson Valley). Last season, they logged 54 for the league’s fourth most.

GAUNTLET OF THE SEASON 

To open the season, the Hat Tricks face second-place Binghamton and first-place Watertown nine times in the first 13 games of the season (Oct. 25–Nov. 27), the most frequent they will see the two teams in a six-week stretch. Danbury took down Binghamton once since winning on the road in a shootout on Nov. 2 but holds just two combined wins against the two division foes. Last season, the Hat Tricks posted a combined 10-12-4-2 record against the Black Bears and Wolves.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Forward Corey Cunningham was dealt to the Monroe Moccasins, completing the Nov. 21 trade that brought Charlie Bedard and Noah Robinson to the Hat Tricks. Cunningham, last season's Hat Tricks Rookie of the Year, had an impressive freshman campaign finishing second on the team in goals (23), fifth in points (42), second in power-play goals (7), and tied for second in game-winning goals (3). Additionally, the Hat Tricks signed returning forward Billy Berry and former KHLer Alexander Vasilyev. Berry played for the Hat Tricks last season, appearing in 12 games and contributing 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) while Vasilyev suited up in 223 games across eight seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Single-game tickets and full/partial season membership plans are still available for purchase. If you are interested, email herm@danburyhattricks.com or go to Tixr.

To stay up to date on all things Danbury Hat Tricks hockey, go to danburyhattricks.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok (@DanburyHatTricks).

ABOUT DANBURY HAT TRICKS:

The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut, competing in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Since their founding in 2019, the Hat Tricks have brought thrilling, hard-hitting hockey to the Danbury Ice Arena, earning a reputation for their fierce competitive spirit and strong community presence. The team is dedicated to providing an exciting game-day experience for fans of all ages, with a focus on building long-lasting connections within the local community.

Proudly representing Danbury, the Hat Tricks are committed to excellence both on and off the ice. In addition to developing top-tier hockey talent, the team engages in numerous community outreach programs, fostering relationships with local schools, businesses, and charities. The Hat Tricks aim to continue growing the sport of hockey in the area and provide entertainment that brings the community together.

Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or new to the sport, the Danbury Hat Tricks promise an unforgettable experience every time they take the ice.