Billy Sheridan scored the visiting Rebels lone goal in their 4 – 1 defeat to the Hat Tricks in game one of this home-and-home series. It was Sheridan’s 12th of the season. It was both teams’ penultimate game of the season with the finale tomorrow night at the Hollydell Ice Arena.
Danbury’s Brendan Boring opened the scoring just 1:20 into the game. The Tricks’ Jack Harney started the play behind his own net and sent a long stretch pass off the far side boards to Boring just outside the offensive zone. As Boring gained the line, he went around Rebels defenseman Joe Stauber and towards the net. As Boring cut through the goalmouth, he slid the puck through Rebels’ netminder Owen Crudale’s five hole to make it a 1 – 0 game.
The Tricks doubled their lead midway through the first. As Stauber’s cross-checking was about to expire, Danbury’s Salvatore Cerrato took a shot from the top of the near side faceoff circle that was redirected out front by the Tricks Ameen Ghosheh and past Crudale for Ghosheh’s twelfth goal of the season.
Danbury’s Austin Michaud made it 3 – 0 midway through the second period. As the Tricks exited the Rebels zone, Michaud took a shot just outside the blueline by the far side boards that handcuffed Crudale and bounced off the goalie’s catching glove and into the back of the net for Michaud’s second of the season.
The Tricks’ Pierre Larocque scored with 6:43 remaining in the middle stanza to make it 4 – 0 before Sheridan scored with 3:17 left in the game to spoil Danbury’s shutout bid.
Crudale turned aside 19 of 23 shots while Danbury’s Ryan Crowshaw stopped 21 of 22. Click HERE for the complete box score.
