Game Recap: Hat Tricks Comeback Effort Fell Short in Carolina Saturday

WINSTON-SALEM, NC — The Hat Tricks nearly erased a four-goal deficit on Saturday night but came up just short in a 4-3 loss to Carolina. 

The Hat Tricks were swept in the weekend trip to Winston-Salem and finished the season series 1-2-1 against the Thunderbirds. The Hat Tricks have now lost three consecutive games on the road after winning the previous five but are still 6-3-1 in their last ten games overall.

In the first, Carolina’s Jacob Schnapp, shorthanded, forced two turnovers in the Hat Tricks’ zone, slithered through the defense, and slipped a lunging effort through the five-hole of Conor McCollum for the game's first goal. Later in the opening period, Brandon Stojcevski’s night was cut short. The rookie center was assessed a five-minute major and match penalty for an illegal check to the head at 17:42.

13 seconds into the second period, Thunderbirds forward Roman Kraemer chipped the puck under the bar on the power play and extended the lead to two. About five minutes later, Tucker Firth’s wrist shot from the blue line weaved its way through and in to further the lead to three. Carolina scored twice in a minute and a half when Schnapp toe-dragged and buried his second goal of the night. Down by four, the Hat Tricks replaced McCollum with Liam Murray. 

With time winding down in the second, Hat Tricks forward Corey Cunningham shoveled the puck through the five-hole to put the Hat Tricks on the board.

Early in the third, in his second game as a Hat Trick, defenseman Dustin Henning sniped one inside the far post to cut the deficit to two. Later in the third, Jonny Ruiz unleashed a one-timer from the high slot to make it a one-goal game. 

Despite multiple pushes in the third, including a goal being waved off due to a high stick, the Hat Tricks couldn't fully climb out of the four-goal hole.

The Hat Tricks return to action next weekend in a home-and-home series with Elmira. Danbury is on the road Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:05 p.m. and back home Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

The Hat Tricks are more than midway through their regular season Cup defense and we still want you to be a part of it! Season and single-game tickets are still available for purchase. Partial season packages can save fans up to 30% and include benefits such as FREE parking and season passes to the Danbury NAHL/NA3HL Hat Tricks games. Call Herm Sorcher at (973) 713-7547 to secure yours today or press here to learn more. To buy single-game tickets press here.

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