FHL Connected: Game Recaps February 12, 2017
February 12, 2017 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Carolina Thunderbirds News Release
Graham Tricks Watertown, Danbury Wins 5-2
By Zak McGinniss
DANBURY, CT-- Matt Graham recorded his first hat trick as a Danbury Titan and Nikita Ivandikov stopped 34 of 36 shots as Danbury rolled to their third straight victory by defeating the Watertown Wolves on a snowy Sunday night at the Danbury Ice Arena.
A scoreless first period gave way to Jason Dolgy scoring 39 seconds into the second frame, giving Watertown the first lead of the game. Danbury was quick to respond with James O'Reilly scoring his first professional goal less than three minutes later to make the game even. O'Reilly now has a goal and a fight to his credit as a pro. Matt Graham and Dalton Jay would tally a goal each within the next five minutes to pace the Titans to a 3-1 lead at the end of two periods of play.
Graham would score his second of the game at the 3:37 mark of the third period to give the Titans a 4-1 lead, but Watertown responded right back as Jesse Fancchini was left alone on the edge of the crease to bring the Wolves within two. While Watertown continued to press offensively, Ivandikov stood tall in goal for Danbury en route to his 11th win of the season. Graham would cap off the scoring with an empty net goal as time wound down to secure the victory for the Titans.
With the victory, their third in a row, the Titans move into a tie for third place in the FHL with the Watertown Wolves, and trail the second place Berlin RiverDrivers by 4 points. The Titans will be on the road next weekend with a pair of games against the Port Huron Prowlers at McMorran Arena on Friday, February 17th, and Saturday, February 18th, with each game scheduled to begin at 7:30pm. Danbury will then return home to face off, once again, versus the Cornwall Nationals on Thursday, February 23rd, with faceoff scheduled for 7:15pm.
Juliano Leads Saints over Dashers
By: Lexi Contratto
The St Clair Shores Fighting Saints provided their home crowd with a much needed win over the Danville Dashers 5-2 on Sunday evening. Led by captain Jonathan Juliano putting up a 4 point performance the Saints were able to string together a full 60 minute game finally toppling the 1st place Dashers.
Zach Zulkanycz also added a three point night with additional goals from Mike Baker and Jan Blasko as well. Jan Pechek put together a stellar effort in goal for SCS making 24 saves in the first period alone.
The Fighting Saints are back on home ice again next Friday at 8pm at the Civic Arena.
Nationals Rebound with Home-Ice Victory
By Rodney Wilson
CORNWALL - Patience paid off for the Nationals on Sunday afternoon, as Cornwall snapped a two-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the Berlin River Drivers in front of 424 dedicated fans.
The start of the game was delayed nearly four hours because of poor driving conditions. Eventually, the River Drivers, who were in Port Huron, MI, the night before, made it to the Civic Complex.
The Nationals took advantage with a quick start, jumping out to a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Joel Trottier and Anthony Mezzagno before the game was five minutes old.
JC Houde gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead with 5:51 to play in the first when he beat Matt Kaludis. Brad Gabbour got Berlin on the scoreboard with 58 seconds to play in the first.
Newly signed forward Storm Adams of Akwesasne extended Cornwall's lead to 4-1 at 3:14 of the middle frame before Mezzagno added his second of the contest, with a shorthanded effort at 6:22.
Berlin's Dominik Synek returned the favour, with a shorthanded goal of his own, beating Francis Dupuis at 9:32 of the second.
Trottier added his second of the game with a powerplay marker at 10:33 of the second, before Stanislav Vlasov added a goal on the man advantage with 1:16 to play in the second.
Berlin's Kristaps Nimanis added a powerplay goal at 10:30 of the third. Jiri Pestuka then took off on a semi-bbreakaway and beat Dupuis up high with a nifty backhand.
With 2:04 to play, Nimanis buried a cross-crease pass to bring the River Drivers to within two goals. Berlin fired 20 shots on net in the third period.
A chippy second period featured three scraps as Cornwall and Berlin renewed their heated rivalry. Cornwall's Joe Cannan took care of Berlin's Andre Niec before Nationals sniper Ian Boots dropped the mitts with John Celli. Veteran Cornwall defenceman Chris Cloutier then had his way with Mitchell Porowski of the River Drivers.
Berlin outshot Cornwall 37-30. Adams (first), Trottier (second) and Mezzagno were the announced stars.
Cornwall travels to Berlin to take on the River Drivers on Friday, Feb. 17 (8 p.m.). The Nationals then wrap up the weekend with a home-and-home with the Watertown Wolves.
On Saturday, Feb. 18, Cornwall visits Watertown (7:30 p.m.) and on Sunday, Feb. 19, the Nationals host the Wolves at the Civic Complex. The puck drops at 1 p.m.
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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2017
- FHL Connected: Game Recaps February 12, 2017 - Carolina Thunderbirds
- FHL Connected: Game Recaps February 11, 2017 - Carolina Thunderbirds
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