Game Recap: Hat Tricks Extend Win Streak to Six, Take Down Watertown 7-4

DANBURY — Rookie forward Billy Berry recorded his first professional hat trick in his eighth pro game Friday night to lead the Hat Tricks to a 7-4 victory over Watertown. The Hat Tricks have won six straight games and 13 of the last 16. Danbury took nine of the 13 games against Watertown in the regular season series. 

Forwards Jacob Ratcliffe, Jonny Ruiz, and Connor Woolley recorded two assists each, while rookie Kolby Johnson secured his first professional goal. 

With 8:30 left in the first period, Hat Tricks captain Ruiz led a three-on-two into the offensive zone and delivered a cross-slot feed to forward Daniel McKitrick for the wrist shot goal under the arm of Spencer Kozlowski. McKitrick’s eleventh goal of the season gave Danbury a 1-0 lead and that is how the period ended. Danbury outshot Watertown 16-7 in the opening frame.

The offenses started to click in the second. 57 seconds into the period, Berry lofted a point shot off of Kozlowski’s helmet and under the crossbar to extend the lead to two. Berry struck again soon after at 3:47 of the period when he swooped around the left side of the net and snuck it inside the post to make it 3-0. Watertown’s Carter Thornton notched a power play goal with 4:38 remaining in the period, which was confirmed by video review. The Hat Tricks responded minutes later at 17:38 of the middle frame after Kyle Gonzalez scored his first goal since Nov. 11. With eleven seconds to go, Watertown’s Thornton scored his second off of a rebound shot to cut the deficit to two.

6:58 into the third, Berry buried his third of the night after snapping the puck past Kozlowski on a one-timer in tight. Seconds later, at 7:14, Johnson tallied his first goal of the season. Watertown responded with two goals to get back within two, but Danbury’s Corey Cunningham sealed the deal with an empty-netter at 16:50.

The Hat Tricks return to action next Friday night in Binghamton against the first-place Black Bears.

The Hat Tricks are in a playoff push and we want you to be a part of it! Playoff ticket packages are on sale now! Call Herm Sorcher at (973) 713-7547 to secure yours today or press here to learn more. To buy single-game regular season tickets press here. Don't miss the excitement of the playoffs—secure your tickets today and join us in supporting the Danbury Hat Tricks!

To stay up to date on all things Danbury Hat Tricks hockey, go to www.danburyhattricks.com and follow the team on social media.