Watertown, NY – The rubber match of the three game weekend took place in the Watertown Municipal Arena on Saturday evening. With Watertown and Danbury splitting the two previous nights, each team was to looking close out on a winning note.
The Watertown power play has not been the teams strong suit so far this season at just 12% coming into tonight’s game, but the Wolves would take advantage of two power play opportunities in the first period to take a 1-0 lead.The first coming at 16:08 of the frame when Sam Hrabcak blasted a one timer from the right side on a feed from Parker Moskal and Elijah Wilson.
The Wolves added a second power play goal at the 19:34 mark. Sam Hrabcak slid the puck to Moskal who was able to get loose down to the right circle. From there he threw one in front that was redirected by Don Carter for his first goal as a member of the Wolves. Watertown outshot Danbury 13 to 10 in the first twenty minutes.
The Hat tricks would strike first in the second frame cutting the Wolves lead in half 2-1, when Michael Falanga intercepted a Wolves clearing attempt and got the puck to Dmitry Kuznetsov who blasted a shot past Owen Liskiewicz.
At 9:37 of the second, Trevor Lord would light the lamp, sending a shot off Danbury keeper Brian Wilson’s shoulder, assisted by John Amanatidis and Zac Horn, extending Watertown’s lead to 3-1, despite being outshot by Danbury 24 to 9.
The Wolves power play would continue to click in period number three with Don Carter Jr. netting his second goal of the night at 3:45 of the frame making the score 4-1. Danbury cut into the Wolves lead at 18:09 after Brian Wilson went to the bench for the extra skater and Brendan Dowler sliced a shot past Liskiewicz making the score 4-2. Assists on the goal went to Michael Marcheson and Jarod Yau.
Still with an extra skater on after the ensuing face off, Daniel McKitrick dragged the puck from behind the goal and lifted a shot to the top of the cage making it a one goal game, assisted by Lucas Debenedet and Evan Lugo.
Just 14 seconds later the Watertown faithful were again able to breathe easier as Elijah Wilson would score, sending the Wolves to a 5-3 win.
Danbury outshot Watertown 60 to 29 for the game. Watertown was 3 for 8 on power play chances with Danbury going 0 for 8.
Watertown will be home again next weekend when they host the Elmira Mammoth on Friday night at 7:30, then the Danbury Hat Tricks will be back in town on Saturday for a 7:30 start.
by Jeff Barrett
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