GAME PREVIEW: DANBURY HAT TRICKS HOST BINGHAMTON BLACK BEARS | APRIL 10TH

LAST TIME OUT

The Danbury Hat Tricks (20-24-5-5, 75 pts) enter the final weekend of the regular season on a three-game win streak. Last Saturday, the team triumphed in one of the games of the season, outlasting the Port Huron Prowlers 4-3 in overtime.

Danbury found the first goal of the evening from defenseman Austin Pickford at 5:26, netting only his fourth goal of the season. Port Huron responded 62 seconds later by way of a Brett Lockhart wrister, maintaining a 1-1 deadlock into the first intermission. Matt Graham added a second goal for the Prowlers early in the second period, heading into the third up 2-1.

Four minutes into the third, Konstantin Chernyuk scored from the point on the powerplay to tie it at 2-2. With under five minutes left, Bobby Price delivered a go-ahead goal for Port Huron. But after drawing a penalty on Arttu Heikkila, Chernyuk delivered again on the man-advantage, netting his second goal and sending it to overtime. 1:19 into OT, Grady Friedman tucked home a rebound, lifting the Hat Tricks over the Prowlers in the season series finale.

HAT TRICKS ARE HOT HEADING INTO FINAL WEEKEND

Despite being eliminated from postseason contention last weekend, Danbury has played wonderfully down the stretch. The team is 5-1 in their last six, including two wins over the empire’s one and two seeds in Binghamton and Port Huron.

This stretch has been a true balanced effort; while the offense has scored 4.2 goals per game (almost a goal more than the season average), they’ve held opponents to 1 goal in three of those six games. That’s in large part to young newcomers like Grady Friedman and goaltender Ayden Pierce, delivering in huge spots in those wins.

Two more games vs Binghamton await. It’ll be a great test to see if the group can close out the season strong and continue to build hope for next season.

RIVERS ROLLING DOWN THE STRETCH

It comes as no surprise that second-year forward Eli Rivers has been a centerpiece to the recent success. The Vermont native has 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in his last five, his most in any five-game stretch this season.

Rivers has delivered and some since joining the team during the Alexander Legkov trade. He arrived in the Hat City with big shoes as Legkov departed (41 points in only 28 games), announcing himself with four goals and a hat trick in his first home weekend.

With the Black Bears’ stingy defense, plus the return of Connor McAnanama, they’ll need Rivers to continue his hot form in the final weekend of the season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Tonight will be the 15th meeting between the Hat Tricks and Black Bears. Binghamton leads the season series 12-2. The Black Bears are 1-5 at the Danbury Ice Arena, losing the most recent game 4-6 back on March 28th.

While the season series has been rather lopsided, the Hat Tricks will be happy to know that they’ve handed Binghamton their last two losses in an otherwise impeccable run of games. Brant Sherwood’s group is 16-2 since February, with both defeats coming to Danbury (3-4 SOL on Feb. 28th, 4-6 L on Mar. 28th).

The 16-game season series vs Binghamton is the second only to the 17-game series Danbury finished vs Watertown last weekend. These games make up over 50% of the team’s schedule.

ABOUT THE Black Bears

The Binghamton Black Bears (43-6-2-3, 138 pts) enter the final weekend having swept the Wolves and Prowlers last weekend by a combined score of 14-2. They are 10-1 since March and have clinched home-ice advantage through the entire Commissioner's Cup Playoffs.

C.J. Stubbs has continued his stellar campaign for the Black Bears, leading the team with 39 goals as the veteran eyes a 100-point season. Ivan Bondarenko’s 76 assists leads both the team and the entire FPHL, nine more than the next highest assist-getter.

Between the pipes, Binghamton has a combination of talented netminders in Dominik Tmej and Connor McAnanama. Tmej leads the league in GAA (1.86) and save percentage (.930), and McAnanama returns after a stint with the Peoria Rivermen in the SPHL.

HAT TRICKS HEADLINES

HOME FINALE TONIGHT!

Tonight marks the final home game of the season for the Hat Tricks at the Danbury Ice Arena. This season, the team is 12-15 on home ice this season and will be looking for a 13th as they take on the Binghamton Black Bears for the final time in Danbury. We hope to see you there!

The Danbury Hat Tricks continue their sixth season in the Federal Prospects Hockey League on Friday, April 10th (7:30 p.m.) at the Danbury Ice Arena, to take on the Binghamton Black Bears. Single-game tickets and partial season ticket packages are on sale and can be purchased in person at the Hat Tricks office located inside the Danbury Ice Arena at 1 Independence Way in Danbury, by calling (973-713-7547) or emailing (herm@danburyhattricks.com) the office, or online through Tixr. For the latest Hat Tricks news, visit www.danburyhattricks.com, follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/danburyhattricks), Instagram (@danburyhattricks), X (@DanburyHatTrick), TikTok (@danburyhattricks), and YouTube (@DanburyHatTricks), and subscribe to the Hat Tricks' newsletter.

The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional hockey team based in Danbury, CT, and compete in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Since their founding in 2019, the 2023 Commissioner's Cup Champions have brought thrilling, fast-paced, and hard-hitting hockey to the Danbury Ice Arena, earning a reputation for their competitive spirit, electric atmosphere, and strong community ties. The team is dedicated to providing an unforgettable game-day experience for fans of all ages while proudly representing the city of Danbury.