HAT TRICKS COMPLETE SWEEP OF BLACK BEARS

BINGHAMTON, NY  - The Danbury Hat Tricks (30-15-3, 88 pts) won their 30^th game of the season on Saturday night 5-3 over the Binghamton Black Bears (24-19-2, 71 pts).

For the second-straight night, Danbury took an early lead and Binghamton clawed back within a goal late in the game.

Jonny Ruiz started the scoring with his 41^st goal of the season 31 seconds into the game. The assists came from Jonny Macdonald and Dmitry Kuznetsov and started a three-point night for Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov (30) continued the scoring 1:51 after Ruiz’s goal to give Danbury a 2-0 advantage. Less than a minute later, Binghamton cut the lead in half. The teams settled into the first period after that.

Danbury finished the way it started in the opening period with a late goal from Zachary Lazzaro. Neither team found the net in the second period, before Brett Jackson opened the scoring in the third to make 4-1 Hat Tricks.

Like Friday night, Binghamton didn’t go away. Goals from Kyle Powell and Tyler Gjurich brought the Black Bears within a goal with 5:21 left in regulation.

With the Binghamton net empty, Kuznetsov (31) took a puck off the wall in his own zone and scored down the length of the ice to seal the game.

Brian Wilson made 35 saves for the Hat Tricks in his ninth win of the season. Danbury and Binghamton are halfway through a stretch of four-straight against each other. The Hat Tricks have taken the first two contests in regulation.

Both teams meet again in Danbury on Friday 7 p.m. for the third game of the stretch.