Game Recap: Hat Tricks Harpoon River Sharks 8-1 in Elmira, Extend Win Streak to Three

ELMIRA, NY — The Danbury Hat Tricks used seven second period goals to bury the River Sharks 8-1 in Elmira Saturday night. With the victory, the Hat Tricks are back over .500 at 6-5 for the first time since they were 2-1 and have won three straight, all on the road. 

The last time the Hat Tricks were in Elmira they scored six goals to nudge past the River Sharks 6-5. Defenseman Kyle Gonzalez backhanded home the game-winning goal in the third period while forwards Bohdan Zinchenko and Jacob Ratcliffe combined for five goals. 

The Hat Tricks entered Saturday’s game winners of two straight and similar to Friday night’s victory over Watertown the first period was relatively quiet. Elmira outshot the Hat Tricks 10-4 in the frame.

In the second period, the floodgates opened and the Hat Tricks found the back of the net seven times.

Forward Connor Woolley started the barrage at 3:36 with his first of the season. Woolley played in five games with the Hat Tricks last season after finishing up at Salem State and had one goal.

A minute and ten seconds later, Brandon Stojcevski got on the board to double the Hat Tricks advantage.

Up 2-0, the Hat Tricks were far from done. Defenseman Jarod Yau and leading goal scorer Nick DiNicola buried goals number three and four of the period at 7:43 and 12:24 respectively. 

Then Stojcevski and Wolley got their second scores of the night. Stojcevski shorthanded at 15:46 and Wolley at 17:21. Despite a 6-0 lead, the Hat Tricks kept their foot on the gas pedal.

With just three seconds remaining in the period, captain Jonny Ruiz - who didn’t play last weekend against the River Sharks - snapped a seven-game goalless drought with a power play tally. 

In the third, Ruiz won the opening faceoff forward and roofed a breakaway six seconds in for his second power play tally of the night. The Hat Tricks entered the night tied for the worst PP percentage in the league with just three goals but converted twice on Saturday. Ruiz’s PPGs were the first power play goals scored by someone not named Sam Dabrowski, who’s no longer with the team, since Evan Lugo got one in the season opener on Oct. 13. 

Goalie Connor McCollum, who entered action with a league-pacing 93.5% save percentage, picked up his fourth professional win with the Hat Tricks stopping 34 of 35 shots. This after making 41 saves in a 2-1 Hat Tricks win on Friday.

Danbury is 2-0 in Elmira this season after a perfect 12-0 record, including playoffs, against the Elmira Mammoth last campaign.

The Hat Tricks finish off their four-game road trip Wednesday, Nov. 22 - Thanksgiving Eve - in Binghamton against the Black Bears. That starts a three-game in four-day stretch against Binghamton for the Hat Tricks.

The Hat Tricks' cup defense is underway and we want you to be a part of it! Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase. Full and 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.

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