The Danbury Titans managed only one goal as they dropped an important three points to the first place Danville Dashers on Friday night at the Danbury Ice Arena. Storm Phaneuf stopped 21 of 22 shots in his first appearance back in the FHL after being returned on loan from the Peoria Rivermen
The first period would be a back and forth affair with both teams trading chances early on and neither team able to establish consistent offensive pressure. This would continue until Junior Harris was sent to the penalty box for checking from behind with under 5 minutes to go in the period, and the highly touted Danville power play took to the ice for the first time. As time expired on the penalty Easton Oliver was able to beat Danbury's Nikita Ivandikov for the first goal of the game and the only goal of the first period. Shots were deadlocked at 9 a piece as the teams went to the locker room for the first intermission.
Just over 6 minutes into the second period the Dashers would strike again as their first line would all record a point with Dan Turgeon finishing a play assisted by Justin Brausen and Justin Levac. The trio has combined for 93 points close to the midway mark of the season. Danbury's Steve Brown would answer back for the Titans with 4:05 to go in the period on the power play, blasting his 5th goal of the season past a screened Phaneuf to bring the Titans within one. All looked well for Danbury as the period wound down, until Gehrett Sargis found an open Darius Cole with a long pass from behind his own goal line. Cole would skate into the Danbury zone and snap a shot under the glove of Ivandikov with only 9.8 seconds remaining to restore the two goal lead for the Dashers and rob the Titans of any momentum for the rest of the game.
The goal took the wind out of the sails of the Titans and they would not recover in the third period. Sargis would add the exclamation point with his 10th of the season 8:54 into the third, and the game was put out of the reach for Danbury. The Titans will not have long to reflect on the game getting away from them as they will host the Dashers again Saturday night with a 7:15pm scheduled faceoff.
For Saturday's game, the Titans are proud to welcome the New York Rangers Sled Hockey team to the Danbury Ice Arena, and the Rangers will scrimmage during the first intermission. Then, the Titans will finish the weekend on Sunday, January 15th, by hosting the Watertown Wolves at 5:05 pm for Star Wars night at the Danbury Ice Arena. Fans can meet Darth Vader himself and are encouraged to dress as their favorite Star Wars character for a chance to win a Titans prize pack.
The Danbury Titans, home to hockey's most passionate fans, are entering their second season in the Federal Hockey League after finishing in first place and making a trip the Commissioner's Cup Finals. Full season and individual game ticket plans are now on sale at DanburyTitans.com or by calling 844-DT-HOCKEY.
D