Late Surge Sends Hat Tricks to 5-2 Win over Sentinels
Published on February 20, 2026 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Danbury Hat Tricks News Release
The Danbury Hat Tricks pulled away with four third-period goals to defeat the Indiana Sentinels 5-2 Friday night in the third of four straight meetings between the teams.
After jumping out to a 6-0 lead in shots, Danbury opened the scoring at 7:38 when Kaiden Kandereka put a slap shot past Chris Curr for a 1-0 lead. With the goal, Kandereka now has seven on the season.
The Hat Tricks nearly added to their lead with some good chances in the latter half of the period, but the Sentinels got on the board next when Dalton Anderson tied the game 1-1 at 4:44.
Ten seconds into four-on-four play at 15:27 of the second period, after two roughing minors on Jordon Kromm and Dylan Infantino, Ivan Ponivanov walked the puck down from the blue line. He put a shot past Kyle Penton to give Indiana the 2-1 lead.
In the third period, Danbury found some momentum after killing off a delay-of-game penalty. Kromm opened the final frame's scoring with the tying goal to make it 2-2 at 8:14.
At 4:30, Austin Pickford's point shot was deflected in front by the Sentinels and past Curr for the Hat Tricks' first lead since the opening period.
Fifteen seconds later, at 4:15, Eli Rivers scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season from the left wing to extend Danbury's lead to 4-2.
With 2:23 left, Anton Rubtsov scored into Indiana's empty net for the Hat Tricks' fourth goal of the period to make it 5-2.
The Hat Tricks face the Sentinels for the final meeting of the four-game stretch Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Hamilton Community Ice Arena.
The Danbury Hat Tricks continue their sixth season in the Federal Prospects Hockey League on Saturday, Feb. 21 (7:30 p.m.) at the Hamilton Community Ice Arena, to take on the Indiana Sentinels. Single-game tickets and partial season ticket packages are on sale and can be purchased in person at the Hat Tricks office located inside the Danbury Ice Arena at 1 Independence Way in Danbury, by calling (973-713-7547) or emailing (herm@danburyhattricks.com) the office, or online through Tixr. For the latest Hat Tricks news, visit www.danburyhattricks.com, follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/danburyhattricks), Instagram (@danburyhattricks), X (@DanburyHatTrick), TikTok (@danburyhattricks), and YouTube (@DanburyHatTricks), and subscribe to the Hat Tricks' newsletter.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2026
- FPHL Ice Chips - Game Recaps - FPHL
- Columbus Falls, 5-3, to Pee Dee - Columbus River Dragons
- Prowlers Hold off Scarecrows, Extend Second-Place Lead - Port Huron Prowlers
- Thunderbirds Defeated by Moccasins - Twin City Thunderbirds
- Lobsters Bring the Beads, Bury Baton Rouge, 7-3 - Athens Rock Lobsters
- 10-Goal Barrage gives BB the Win - Binghamton Black Bears
- Late Surge Sends Hat Tricks to 5-2 Win over Sentinels - Danbury Hat Tricks
- Thunderbirds Set for Weekend Series against Moccasins - Twin City Thunderbirds
- Prowlers Take Control of 2nd After Shootout Win - Port Huron Prowlers
- FPHL Ice Chips - Game Recaps - FPHL
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