Elmira, NY – Tonight would take a lot of extra hockey but after 10 rounds of shootouts the Danbury Hat Tricks would complete the weekend sweep winning 4-3. Harley White and Frankie McClendon stood on their heads and made this game an instant classic. 
The Mammoth and Hat Tricks each had outstanding opportunities in the first 10 minutes but just before the halfway mark of period number 1, Jim Jensen ripped a shot from the point that Tate Leeson tipped past the shoulder of Frankie McClendon for goal number 1. Kyle Stevens also received an assist.
Less than 30 seconds later Dalton Anderson was shot out of a rocket and put a backhand shot past McClendon to make it 2-0 Elmira. Noah Wild and Tristan Mock each received an assist on the goal.
6 minutes later Ricards Jelenskis found Thomas McGuire who lifted a low wrister past the netminder to give Elmira a 3-0 lead. Justin Schmit received the secondary assist.
To end the 1st period Danbury would finally find the back of the net, John MacDonald poked a rebound shot past White for their first goal of the game.
The 2nd period would be a much more even contest, both Harley White and Frankie McClendon had to make some spectacular saves to keep the score the same. Each team delivered grade A opportunities but after 40 minutes of hockey the score would stay 3-1 in favor of the Herd.
The Hat Tricks would bring it back in the 3rd period, Michael Marchesan would score on the powerplay to cut the lead in half to make it 3-2 Mammoth. Johnny Ruiz got the apple.
5 minutes later Connor Wooley would get his first professional goal beating White to make things all even at 3. Gonzalez and MacDonald received the assists. Wooley would then be ejected from the game for spearing Luke Richards which gave the mammoth a 5 minute power play. They would not convert and the game went to OT.
Both teams would have their chances but nothing would come of it and we would head to a shootout at First Arena.
After 9 rounds of shootouts, the 10th would be the final one. John MacDonald was able to beat Harley White 5-hole to give Danbury the 4-3 victory. Frankie McClendon stopped every single shot in the shootout and gave the Hat Tricks the 2 points to stay atop the Empire Division. Harley White made 58 saves tonight in the loss.
The Mammoth will be back on the road next weekend as they head to Port Huron to take on the Prowlers. Puck drop is 7:05 on Friday from the McMorran Arena.
by Jacob Johnson
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