HAT TRICKS DEFEAT BLACK BEARS 7-5 IN THRILLER

DANBURY, CT – The Danbury Hat Tricks (29-15-3, 85 pts) held off a third-period push from the Binghamton Black Bears (24-18-2, 71 pts) on Friday night to win 7-5.

The Hat Tricks’ seven goals came from seven different players. Danbury started the scoring with three goals in the first five minutes of the game, chasing goaltender Joe Sheppard early on.

Dustin Jesseau added a goal (15) and two assists (18) as one of six Hat Tricks with multiple points. Tom Mele, Dmitry Kuznetsov, Steve Brown, Adam Dauda and Jonny Ruiz all registered multiple points.

The Hat Tricks held a 6-2 lead early in the third period before Binghamton charged back with three-straight goals. With 7:15 remaining, the Black Bears closed the Danbury lead to just a single goal.

After an extended shift in the Danbury zone, the Hat Tricks found Adam Dauda in the offensive end with an empty net to shoot at. With one second remaining, Dauda made it a 7-5 game.

“We have to do a better job closing out the game,” said head coach Dave MacIsaac. “We’re in a playoff-push here and good teams don’t play third periods like that.”

The Hat Tricks and Black Bears return to the ice on Saturday in Binghamton to finish off the weekend-series. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.