Game Recap: Hat Tricks, McKitrick Prevail 5-4 in Overtime Over Binghamton

DANBURY — Daniel McKitrick’s game-winner at 2:47 of overtime was the difference in a 5-4 Hat Tricks victory over the Black Bears on Alumni Night in Danbury. The Hat Tricks have won seven of the last nine and five of the first seven during their nine-game homestand.

The Hat Tricks started the scoring less than three minutes into the first period. Forward Jonny Ruiz snapped the puck through the pad of Binghamton’s netminder Nolan Egbert to secure an early lead. The goal marked Ruiz's 150th in the FPHL and 140th as a Hat Trick. But just 21 seconds later, Binghamton struck back with a tap-in goal from Jesse Anderson off a pass from Gavin Yates. The Black Bears snatched their first lead of the night with a nearly identical goal at 11:27. Anderson edged the puck inside the left post to push the Black Bears in front. At 13:10 in the first, forward Michael Falanga tied the score at two on a tap-in goal of his own on a cross-slot feed from Nick DiNicola.

3:56 into the second period, Danbury forward Chase Harwell slung a puck in the slot clanking it off of a Black Bear's skate and into the back of the net to give the Hat Tricks a 3-2 lead. Just shy of two minutes later, Harwell put Danbury up by two after lifting the puck under the bar and over the shoulder of Egbert. Binghamton answered at 7:13 when Yates snuck the puck around the leg of a sprawling Conor McCollum to cut the deficit to one. Black Bears forward Jestin Somero tied the game at four with under seven minutes to play in regulation erasing the two-goal deficit. 

Despite Binghamton holding the momentum, Danbury forced overtime and McKitrick found some open ice near the right circle and sniped it past Egbert for the game-winning goal.

McCollum made 33 saves in the win.

The Hat Tricks finish off the weekend on Sunday against Elmira. The puck drops at 3 p.m.

The Hat Tricks are in a playoff push and we want you to be a part of it! Playoff tickets go on sale soon but 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.

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