Game Recap: Hat Tricks Season Ends, Defeated by Prowlers in Game 3, 5-3

DANBURY — The Port Huron Prowlers used three straight goals in the second period to defeat the Hat Tricks, 5-3, in the final game of the Empire Division Semifinals at the Danbury Ice Arena on Sunday. The Hat Tricks were eliminated after dropping Game 1 in Port Huron.

Each team that scored first in the series lost. Danbury squandered a 2-0 lead in Game 1 and the Prowlers lost their 1-0 lead, and the middle game, on Saturday. 

Port Huron forward Bobby Price notched the game-winning goal unassisted in the slot at 13:01 of the second. Price moved the Prowlers ahead by two on his second goal of the game with 3:47 remaining.

Despite taking six penalties in the opening period, the Prowlers went into the dressing room on the board. Port Huron forward Reginald Millette scored through traffic from the high slot with 1:51 left in the first, halving Danbury’s lead.

Nearly 3 ½ minutes into the middle frame, Prowlers forward Matt Graham tipped home a puck in front to tie the contest at two. Forward Tyler Fox buried a centering pass from the goal line 12 seconds later to put Port Huron in the lead, 3-2, for the first time in the game.

Jacob Ratcliffe, who scored late in the third period in Game 1, tucked home a rebound off co-head coach and captain Jonny Ruiz’s wrist shot at 15:41, to bring Danbury within one, 4-3.

Ruiz scored on the power play twice in the first period, the first in front at 3:57 for a 1-0 lead, and ripped home another off an offensive-zone draw at 7:04. The Hat Tricks were 2-for-5 with the man up.

Gleb Bandurkin appeared to have scored on the power play at 1:25 of the second. But a Prowlers challenge confirmed goaltender interference and the goal was waved off.

Braidan Simmons-Fischer served a high-sticking double minor early in the third, but the Hat Tricks didn’t cash in, despite outshooting the Prowlers 14-1 in the first nine minutes.

Danbury’s penalty kill held clear in all three opportunities.

Conor McCollum made 25 saves and faced 30 shots.