BROOKLYN, NY – The Brooklyn Aviators defeated the Danbury Whalers 7-1 on Friday night at the Aviators Sports and Events Center in Federal Hockey League action. This was the final matchup of the regular season between the two clubs.
Mike Thomson led the way for the Aviators offensively with three goals and an assist, while goaltender Jo St. Pierre stopped 31 shots in the victory for Brooklyn.
Brooklyn opened up the scoring in the first period after Nick Petriello found the back of the net on the power play at the 5:13 mark. A loose puck at the base of the right wing circle was picked up by Andrew Scampoli, who then hit Petriello with a pass in the slot. While falling, Petriello slid the puck under Whalers netminder Peter Vetri for his eighth marker of the season. The Aviators doubled their lead, 2-0, 2:24 later as Steve Koich snapped one past Vetri for his seventh tally of the season on a beautiful individual effort along the left wing.
Joe Dabkowski would strike against his former club to net his fifth goal of the year 8:48 into the second period to give the Aviators a 3-0 lead. Dabkowski battled in front to only find the puck sitting alone in the crease, which he then slid under the left pad Vetri. Thomson then scored both of his goals on the night, with one on a rebound and the other on a deflection, on the power play just 2:05 apart that put Brooklyn up 5-0 after two.
Thomson completed the hat trick in the third period, also on the power play, with his breakaway tally at the 1:40 mark, while defenseman Brian Marks scored his first of the year 2:18 later to ice it for Brooklyn.
Vetri gets the loss for Danbury after only playing two periods and stopping 21 of 26 shots before giving away to back up Matt Trusz.
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