By Patrick Frenette
Despite valiant efforts from Lukas Fursten, Logan Nickerson, and Jack Wuertz, the Hat Tricks drop their final game against the Maine Nordiques this season, in a 7-2 loss.
In the first frame, the Hat Tricks started off on the penalty kill. This came after a scrum was started in warmups by former Nordique, Grant Dietz and Maine forward, Ryan Panico. They would both recieve two and ten for unsportsmanlike conduct to start. However, Anthony White would be serving a two minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Hat Tricks would get through half of White’s penalty, before it would turn into a 5-on-3 for the Nordiques. Danbury defenseman, Ivan Korodiuk, received a high-sticking penalty, 0:58 into the period. White would return to action and the Nordiques would capitalize on the man-advantage, to make it 1-0. 4:22 later, the Noriques would grab an odd goal that trickled through the five-hole of Thomas Kiesewetter, making it a 2-0 game. In his 150th NAHL game, Nickerson would put the Hat Tricks on the board, 1:28 later, to make it 2-1. The first period racked up 38 penalty minutes, between the warmup scrums and instances that occurred 7:11 into the period. Maine would notch two more goal to end the period, up 4-1.
In the second frame, Hat Tricks defenseman, Cam Charron would grab an interference penalty, 0:39 into the second period. This would lead to Maine forward, Zion Green, scoring on the power play and extending the Nordiques lead, 5-1. Only 1:01 later, Hat Tricks center, Jack Wuertz, would tap in the puck through the five-hole of Nordiques goaltender, Carter Richardson, putting the Hat Tricks at 5-2. Midway through the frame, Kiesewetter would exit with apparent injury that lead to Fursten taking his place for the remainder of the game. Fursten would hold his own through the remaining 14:01 of the second period. The second period also featured a grand total of 102 penalty minutes between both teams. 94 of those minutes, were handed out after an intense scrum, 13:48 into the period.
In the final frame, the Hat Tricks look to recreate a comeback, similar yet tougher than the instance last Friday against the Nordiques. Danbury would grab a power play, 1:40 into the period, following a Nordiques bench penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Hat Tricks were unable to capitalize on what would be the only penalty in the third period. Maine would end any hope of a comeback after scoring two times within 1:48 of each other, to make it 7-2.
The Hat Tricks return to the Danbury Ice Arena next weekend for the final time this regular season. Danbury will face the top of the division, Maryland Black Bears, on Friday the 29th for a 3 p.m. puck drop, followed by Trashers Night on Saturday the 30th, at 7 p.m. You can also stream both games on NATV.