Game Preview: Hat Tricks vs. Binghamton Black Bears | Nov. 16, 2024

LAST TIME OUT

Gavin Yates scored in the second period for his second goal in four games, Nolan Egbert stopped 29 shots, and the Binghamton Black Bears took down the Hat Tricks, 2-1, on Friday night.

Yates’ goal at 13:40 served as the game-winner—his second against the Hat Tricks this season. Cameron Clark also scored for Binghamton, tying the game with a wrist shot on the power play in the first period.

Conor McCollum, making 50 saves for the second time this season, faced heavy pressure as the Black Bears outshot the Hat Tricks 24-7 in the opening period. McCollum, a second-year netminder, also stopped 51 shots in Danbury’s first loss to Binghamton earlier this season.

Danbury finished 0-for-5 on the power play and was outshot 52-30, but peppered Egbert for 13 shots in the third.

Rookie forward Gleb Banurkin scored his first goal, his first since his season debut on Nov. 1, to give the Hat Tricks their only lead. Aleksandr Gamzatov collected an assist for the second straight contest.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Hat Tricks and Black Bears square off for the fourth time this season, wrapping up a two-game set on Saturday after Binghamton’s 2-1 victory on Friday. Danbury secured its lone win against the Black Bears in an eight-round shootout on Nov. 2, with defenseman Josh Labelle scoring the decisive goal and McCollum going 8-for-8 in the shootout.

On Oct. 25, Danbury lost in overtime despite leading 2-1 after two periods. Cameron Clark sealed the win for Binghamton with a power play goal in the extra frame. All five goals in that contest came on special teams, including one shorthanded tally. Black Bears goaltender Connor McAnanama made 42 saves, while McCollum stopped 51 shots and forward Cory Anderson scored shorthanded in the second period for his first goal of the season.

After this weekend, the Hat Tricks and Black Bears will face off seven more times this season—three games in Danbury and four in Binghamton. The series remains in Connecticut for their scheduled matchup on Nov. 23 and the Hat Tricks head to Binghamton on Nov. 27, before again hosting 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 Binghamton 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 2-2-3-1 with 11 points, 14 behind the first-place Black Bears (6-1-1-3). 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, the reigning Commissioner’s Cup champions, leads the Empire Division with 25 points, has won nine of its first 11 games, and boasts the second-best goal differential (+14). The Black Bears have scored 10 combined goals during their three-game win streak and have allowed just five goals.

Forward Tyson Kirkby leads the FPHL with 20 points and remains second in goals (11), despite finishing scoreless in Friday’s win. Kirkby and defenseman Jesse Anderson, who have spent a combined seven seasons with the Black Bears, lead the team in assists with 11 each. Cameron Clark has also logged three game-winning goals, which is good for a tie for the FPHL lead.

The Empire Division leaders in goals scored last season (276), the Black Bears return eight skaters with 86 combined points. Four skaters, Kirkby, Clark, Anderson, and Thompson, have 10 or more points through their first 11 contests. Defenseman Dakota Bohn posted two assists on Friday in his second two-assist game this season, extending his point streak to three games.

The Black Bears have scored the league’s second-most power play goals (16) but have been inconsistent on the penalty kill (78.2%), allowing the fourth-most goals (12).

Second-year goalie Connor McAnanama is sixth in the FPHL in goals against average (2.08), tied for second in wins (5), and tied for the league lead in shutouts with two in seven starts. He collected a win with 42 saves against the Hat Tricks in their first meeting on Oct. 25 in Danbury.

HAT TRICKS HEADLINES

Danbury tries to overcome a three-game skid against Binghamton as they finish off a two-game home series versus the Black Bears. The Hat Tricks have dropped three consecutive games and are just 1-2-3-1 in their last seven contests. Despite losing five of the past seven, Danbury has picked up at least one point in five of the games.

Not scoring after striking first in the first period versus the Black Bears, the Hat Tricks dropped to 0-1-2-1 when scoring the first goal, and 2-2-2-1 when entering the second in a tie.

The Hat Tricks are winless on Friday night (0-2-2-0) and have just one win through five games at the Danbury Ice Arena. In the second period this season, Danbury has outscored its opponents 13-11 in its highest-scoring frame.

The Hat Tricks’ only lead after the first period through its first nine games was on Nov. 1 in its 3-2 overtime loss at Watertown, when it led by one.

In its four overtime affairs this season, the Hat Tricks have been outshot 20-1 in the extra frame despite having registered a shootout win against Binghamton on Nov. 2.

Forward Chase Harwell has scored five goals over the past seven games and leads the team in scoring. Forward Aleksandr Gamzatov has three points over the past two games for eight total and trails forward Jacob Ratcliffe by one.

RUSSKIY LINE STRIKES AGAIN

Gleb Bandurkin and Aleksandr Gamzatov each picked up one point in Friday’s home loss to Binghamton. Both natives of Russia, Bandurkin, 24, had his first goal since his season debut on Nov. 1, while Gamzatov, 22, registered the assist in the first period on the Hat Tricks’ lone tally. Bandurkin, a first-year forward who centers the line, has suited up in five games for Danbury in his first FPHL season and Gamzatov has skated in all nine.

MC SHINES IN NET DESPITE LOSS

For the second time this season, Conor McCollum stopped 50 shots in Danbury’s narrow loss. The 27-year-old kept the reigning Commissioners Cup champion Black Bears to one goal on 24 shots in the first period in his third start versus Binghamton this season. McCollum’s start on Nov. 2 remains his only win against Binghamton this season, a 36-save shootout victory. In his first start versus Binghamton on Oct. 25, McCollum made 51 saves, his most since Dec. 21 last season.  

POWER PLAY INCONSISTENCIES 

Over the past five games, the Hat Tricks are 2-for-31 on the power play. In its loss to Binghamton on Friday, Danbury went 0-for-5 on the man advantage, after an 0-for-8 night in its first shutout loss of the season versus Watertown on Nov. 8. Through their nine games, the Hat Tricks have scored nine power play goals for the sixth-fewest in the FPHL with five of them coming in one game (Oct. 26 at Hudson Valley). Last season, the Hat Tricks scored the fourth-most power play goals in the league with 54. On the flip side of special teams, the Hat Tricks’ penalty kill stood out, allowing just one goal to the Black Bears.

LOW-SCORING THIRD PERIODS

The Hat Tricks did not score in any of the third periods in their past four losses to Binghamton and Watertown. When trailing after the second period, Danbury is 0-3-0-0 following its scoreless third period in its 2-1 loss to Binghamton. Friday’s third period involved the Hat Tricks outshooting Binghamton 13-10, nevertheless.

GAUNTLET OF THE SEASON

To open the season, the Hat Tricks face first place Binghamton and second 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. Entering its two-game home set with the Black Bears on Friday, Danbury holds just one combined win against the two division foes, a 4-3 shootout win in Binghamton on Nov. 2. Last season, the Hat Tricks posted a combined 10-12-4-2 record against the Black Bears and Wolves.

X-MAN OUT LONG TERM

Third-year forward Xavier Abdella went on season-ending injury reserve on Nov. 8. The 27-year-old native of Albany, N.Y., fractured his ankle in a home game versus Binghamton (Oct. 26) and played in just three of the Hat Tricks’ first eight games of the season. As a result, first-year defenseman Reese Tamburo was signed to a standard contract after beginning the season on a PTO.

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.