Game Recap: Hat Tricks Net Five Straight, Cruise to 5-2 Victory in Wytheville

WYTHEVILLE, VA — The Hat Tricks notched five unanswered goals, three in the second and two in the third, to sweep the weekend series in Wytheville and extend their winning streak to five games. Forwards Jacob Ratcliffe (1g, 1a), Billy Berry (1g, 1a), Kolby Johnson (2a), and Corey Cunningham (2g) each tallied two points in the win.

The Hat Tricks are just two points behind Motor City for second place in the Empire Division and home-ice advantage in round one of the playoffs. 

With four minutes remaining in the first period, a glass repair paused the action for 40 minutes. Out of the break, the Bobcats struck first. With 18 seconds remaining in the opening frame, Blue Ridge forward Daniel Martin converted on a breakaway chance to post the game’s first goal.

Five minutes into the second frame, rookie Jhuwon Davis was sprung on a breakaway and sniped his first professional goal to the top corner to tie the score at one. Midway through the period, Jacob Ratcliffe, at the right-side circle, slapped home a one-timer to give the Hat Tricks their first lead of the night. Kolby Johnson recorded the assist in his debut with the Hat Tricks. With 1:37 remaining, Billy Berry swept a loose puck through the legs of Bobcats netminder Owen Liskiewicz to push the advantage to two.   

41 seconds into the third, Corey Cunningham buried a tic-tac-toe power play goal to further Danbury's lead to three. Three minutes later, Cunningham wrapped around the net and tucked in his second of the period to make it 5-1 Hat Tricks. With 4:27 remaining, forward Nikita Ivashkin muscled his way to the low slot and stuffed the puck past the pad of Hat Tricks goaltender Conor McCollum to cut the deficit to three.  

The Hat Tricks return home on Friday, March 29 for the lone game of the weekend against Watertown. The puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. 

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!

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