Hat Tricks Use 3rd Period Comeback to Take Shootout Win Friday Night
March 4, 2022 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Columbus River Dragons News Release
Columbus, GA - The Columbus River Dragons found themselves on the wrong side of a 3rd period comeback as Danbury took out of three points on the weekend with a shootout win 3-2 on Friday night.
Jay Croop started off the scoring for the night with a power play goal at the 11:04 period assisted by Jack Riley and Brad Nolan during a 5-on-3 power play opportunity the Dragons cashed in on early. Later in the period, Austin Daae extended the Columbus lead to 2-0 at the 18:27 mark of the period after an odd puck bounce from the right wing corner went right onto Daae's stick as he shot home his 29th of the season.
A scoreless 2nd period saw Danbury climb back into the game momentum wise with a couple of power play opportunities late in the 2nd, however Bailey MacBurnie stood all all period long to keep the game at 2-0.
Nicola Levesque scored on the power play at the 4:58 mark of the third period to begin to turn the tide in Danbury's favor and cut the Columbus lead to 2-1, Jonny Ruiz made the goal happen ringing the post on the shot before. Dmitry Kuznetsov tied the game up at the 16:49 mark of the third set up with a top notch pass from behind the net by Tobias Odjick which would put the game at 2-2.
In the game's final minute Hunter Bersani had a clean look at goal but was stopped by the outstretched blocker of Brian Wilson in a save of the year candidate stop to keep the game at 2-2 and send it to overtime.
After neither team was able to convert on the 3 on 3 play, the game headed to a shootout. Dmitry Kuznetsov scored the first shootout goal in the top of the 1st and Jonny Ruiz ended it with a goal in the top of the 5th. None of the four Columbus shooters could solve Brian Wilson as the Hat Tricks took two points.
Brian Wilson took a hard fought win with 37 saves on 39 shots and going perfect in the shootout. Bailey MacBurnie suffered the loss with a 34 save night.
The same two teams go at it again tomorrow night at the Civic Center with a 7:30 puck drop. The game will be broadcast live on WTVM Bounce 9.2 locally in Columbus.
Three Stars of the Game
Brian Wilson
Jonny Ruiz
Bailey MacBurnie
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2022
- Hat Tricks Use 3rd Period Comeback to Take Shootout Win Friday Night - Columbus River Dragons
- Hat Tricks Comeback to Win in Shootout - Danbury Hat Tricks
- Friday Night Win in Delaware Goes to Thunder - Delaware Thunder
- Black Bears Lose in Overtime to Wolves, 6-5 - Binghamton Black Bears
- Chase Fallis Announces Retirement; Other Roster Moves Made Ahead of Rostering Rules for Playoffs - Columbus River Dragons
- Prowlers Sign Brausen for Playoff Push - Port Huron Prowlers
- Hat Tricks Start Series in Columbus - Danbury Hat Tricks
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