Game Recap: Hat Tricks Surge Past Wolves, 9-3, Split Weekend Set

DANBURY — The Hat Tricks unleashed the same scoring barrage that helped them the last time they hosted the Watertown Wolves.

Danbury scored seven unanswered goals in a 9-3 win at the Danbury Ice Arena on Saturday.

Vadim Frolov and Jacob Ratcliffe each scored twice to help the Hat Tricks tie their season-high in goals and finish the weekend with four points. Gleb Bandurkin tallied a game-high four points (1g, 3a).

Cory Anderson scored on a deflection from an offensive-zone faceoff one minute into the game. The 30-year-old forward then logged an assist on Danbury’s fourth goal in the first to reach 100 points in his professional career (63g, 37a).

Bandurkin gave the Hat Tricks a 2-0 lead 2:38 later, slipping a wrist shot past Anton Borodkin on the short side.

Danbury was far from finished.

Dylan Hullaby scored on a wrist shot from the left circle to extend Danbury’s advantage to three on an angled pass from Noah Robinson at 10:32 of the opening frame. The 6-foot-5 winger buried a goal for the third straight game, continuing the longest scoring stretch of his professional career.

About 7 ½ minutes into the middle frame, Billy Berry tapped in a rebound on the power play, his third goal in four contests, to put the Hat Tricks up 5-0. The Redding, Conn., native ended a five-game drought on the man advantage for Danbury.

Frolov sniped a top-shelf goal from the right circle to push Danbury’s advantage to six, potting two goals for the first time since a 3-2 road win against Motor City on Dec. 7.

With just more than one minute left in the second, Steven Klinck scored at 5-on-3 to put the Wolves on the board.

Seven seconds after Andrew Whalen scored on the power play in the third, Ratcliffe answered with a wrister off a centering pass from behind the net for the final Hat Tricks goal.

Davide Gaeta scored for the second straight game to keep Watertown to within six at 8:25 of the third.   

Danbury killed off a 5-on-3 with 3:55 to go in the third, preventing Watertown from gaining any momentum.

Conor McCollum bounced back from Friday’s shootout loss at Watertown with 50 saves, moving to 11-9-4. It marked his first 50-save performance since Nov. 15 against Binghamton.

Up next, the Hat Tricks are back home against HC Venom on Friday to start a three-game weekend series. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.

ABOUT DANBURY HAT TRICKS:

The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional hockey team based in Danbury, CT and compete in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Since their founding in 2019, the 2023 Commissioner's Cup Champions have brought thrilling, fast-paced, and hard-hitting hockey to the Danbury Ice Arena, earning a reputation for their competitive spirit, electric atmosphere and strong community ties. The team is dedicated to providing an unforgettable game-day experience for fans of all ages while proudly representing the city of Danbury.

Off the ice, the Hat Tricks are committed to fostering connections within the local community through outreach programs with schools, businesses and charities. By developing top-tier hockey talent and growing the sport in the region, the Hat Tricks aim to bring the community together and deliver entertainment that leaves a lasting impact.

Danbury Hat Tricks single-game tickets and full/partial season membership plans are still available for purchase. If you are interested, email herm@danburyhattricks.com or go to Tixr.

To stay up to date on all things Danbury Hat Tricks hockey, go to danburyhattricks.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok (@DanburyHatTricks).