Game Recap: Hat Tricks Top Carolina 2-1 Saturday, Split Weekend Series

DANBURY — The Hat Tricks bested Carolina 2-1 in the second game of the weekend series Saturday night to avoid a three-game losing streak and improve to 3-3. Defenseman Daniel Amesbury wacked home the game-winning goal at 13:31 of the second period to push the Hat Tricks to 3-1 on home ice.

The first period saw no goals but was not without action. With 30 seconds on the clock, Amesbury dropped the gloves with defenseman Joseph Kennedy of the Thunderbirds to ignite the crowd and close out the opening 20 minutes.

In the second period, the Hat Tricks struck first at 7:47 when forward Brandon Stojcevski one-timed an elevated pass from defenseman Jarod Yau into the back of the net. The Hat Tricks weren't done there. At 13:31, Amesbury stuffed home a rebound during a net mouth scramble to extend the lead to two.

Carolina responded in the third frame though when d-man Kennedy tucked a snap shot under the bar to pull the Thunderbirds within one at 10:10.

Unlike Friday night in which the Hat Tricks surrendered three unanswered goals in the third to fall 4-2, Danbury held on to secure a 2-1 victory thanks in large part to goalie Conor McCollum who stopped 34 of 35 Carolina shots in his third professional start for the Hat Tricks. McCollum is 2-1 and leads the FPHL with a goals against average of 1.98.

The Hat Tricks play next in Watertown on Friday night before returning home to battle Binghamton on Saturday.

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.

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