Photo: Patrick Garriepy
Written by: Rory McGouran

Keagin Wilson was exceptional. The offense could never find its groove, and the Northeast Generals dropped their third straight game on Friday, losing 3-1 to the Hat-Tricks in Danbury.

The Generals never trailed by more than one goal, thanks in most part to Wilson, who was making his first start since October 17. The Gen’s netminder turned aside 39 of 41 shots, including numerous highlight-reel saves, always keeping the game within reach.

Danbury opened the scoring on an alley-oop breakaway pass to Luke Melnik, who beat Wilson on just the second shot of the game. Wilson would then go on to stop the next 34 shots, allowing the Gens to tie the game with a power-play goal from Drew Gibbons in the second period.

The Generals’ game-tying goal, their first goal of the game, came at the 29-minute mark. Through 20 games this season, this was the longest opening stretch of time it took the Gens to find the back of the net.

The 1-1 tie held deadlocked until Austin Michaud scored on a 2-on-1 odd-man rush to regain Danbury’s one-goal lead, which would stand as the game winner, and Peter Freel added an empty netter to seal the 3-1 victory.

The Gens’ power play had enough opportunity to swing the game in their favor. However, only converted one of seven attempts. Their penalty kill held strong for all three times shorthanded.

The loss concluded the first of four straight meetings between the Generals and Hat Tricks. The two teams will square off once more in Danbury tonight, before a set of games back in Canton on November 21 and 22. The Generals currently hold a 2-1 season-series lead through three games.