Game Preview: Titans travel to Danbury for Matinee

May 4, 2021

The Titans and Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks will be playing a matinee game starting at 1:00 PM today at the Danbury Ice Arena. It will be the eighth and final time these teams meet this season. After this game, the Titans will close out the 2020-21 regular season with a two-game series against the Northeast Generals in Attleboro, MA this weekend.

Jr. Hat Tricks and Titans Overview
The Titans have won five of the seven previous contests between the teams by a combined score of 35 to 19. Both Jr. Hat Trick victories were in overtime and in their own barn.

Alex Krause (3 goals and 4 assists) leads the Tricks with seven points against New Jersey while Levi Stauber has the most goals (4) against the Red Buckets. Danbury is 7 for 29 (24%) on the power play against the Titans although they have allowed three shorthanded goals. The Jr. Hat Tricks goalies have a combined 4.71 goals against average and .855 save percentage with no shutouts against New Jersey.

Nick Seitz (6 goals and 6 assists) leads the Titans with twelve total points against Danbury as well as goals (6). Jake LaRusso and Matthew Iasenza each have seven assists against the Tricks. The Titans are 11 for 33 (33%) with the man advantage and they have not allowed a shorthanded goal. New Jersey’s netminders have a combined 2.70 goals against average .928 save percentage with no shutouts.

Jr. Hat Tricks Overview
The Hat Tricks are currently last in the East Division with an 18-24-4-0 record for 40 points. They have eight games remaining in the regular season, including today’s contest against the Titans. Danbury has won two of its last 10 games, and they are coming of a 7 – 2 home loss to the Johnstown Tomahawks (Johnstown took two of three games last weekend against the Tricks). The Hat Tricks have scored 125 goals on the season (20th in the league) while they have allowed 160 (16th in the league). Danbury is 32 for 190 (16.8%) on the powerplay (15th in the league), and they have allowed eight shorthanded goals. The Hat Tricks are 81.6% efficient on the penalty kill (12th in the league), and they have scored six shorthanded goals.

Krause (16 goals and 14 assists) leads Danbury in total points with 30 and goals (16). Five different Hat Tricks have two game winning goals. Adam Shuchart and Hank McDonough each have a team best +7. Porter Schachle leads the team (and league) with 238 penalty minutes.

Danbury’s goaltenders have a combined 3.36 goals against average and .897 save percentage with two shutouts (Edvard Nordlund and Andrew Pichora).

Titans Overview
The Titans are currently in third place in the East Division with a 25-19-2-5 record for 57 points. They have clinched a spot in the Robertson Cup playoffs for the fifth straight time (minus last season’s suspended season). In fact, they are the only team in the East Division’s history to make the playoffs every year (again, minus last year’s suspended season although the Titans were in first place when the season was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic). They are coming off a 5 – 0 road win against the Maryland Black Bears while they have won five of their last ten games. New Jersey has scored 184 goals on the season (fourth in the league) while they have allowed 163 (17th in the league). The Titans have converted on 20.5% (42 for 205) of their chances on the powerplay (9th in the league). They have allowed seven goals while on the man advantage.  The Red Buckets are 84.5% efficient on the penalty kill (seventh in the league). The Titans have scored the most shorthanded goals in the league with 14.

LaRusso (16 goals and 27 assists) leads the Titans with 43 total points while Evan Werner leads the team in goals (21). Werner also leads the team with four game winning goals. Anthony Mollica has a team best +19. Brad Zona has a team high 121 penalty minutes.

The Titans goaltenders have a combined 3.00 goals against average and .916 save percentage with three shutouts (Christian Stoever (2) and Loudon Hogg).