Hockey / Garlent nets hat trick, leads Fort Erie to 6-3 win over Niagara Falls

Garlent nets hat trick, leads Fort Erie to 6-3 win over Niagara Falls

Date:  Source: OHA Niagara Falls Canucks

Holden Garlent lifted the Fort Erie Meteors to a 6-3 victory with a hat trick against the Niagara Falls Canucks.

Garlent's first goal came 1:00 into the first period. He then added goals at 15:57 into the first and at 3:40 into the third.

Referees had their hands full with a major incident at 11:53 into the third period. Four fighting penalties were dished out along with two game misconducts.

Fort Erie forced its penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up 10 minors and two majors for 70 minutes in penalty time. The Meteors surpassed its season average of 22.0 penalty minutes per game. Fort Erie surpassed its usual scoring output this season. This season, the Meteors average 3.5 goals per contest.

Fort Erie additionally got points from Danial Singer, who also had two goals and one assist and Cody Petawabano, who also registered one goal and one assist. More assists for Fort Erie came via Anthony Passero, who had four and Dakota Miskolczi, Ben Evans, and Garrett Jennings, who contributed one each.

Niagara Falls was often in penalty trouble, totaling six minors and two majors for 32 minutes in penalty time. The Canucks had been averaging 23.0 minutes in penalties per game. Fort Erie was unable to stop Niagara Falls from sending pucks towards the net, and the Canucks eventually piled up 39 shots on goal. Niagara Falls had trouble converting on the power play advantage, managing just two goals on 10 chances. The Canucks' defensemen played an important role in the offense, chipping in three goals.

Niagara Falls was led by Matthew Baldinelli, who tallied two goals and one assist. Baldinelli scored the first of his two goals on the power play at 18:27 into the first period to make the score 3-1 Fort Erie. The Canucks earned a power play opportunity when Singer was put in the box for slashing. Zack Lansfield assisted on the tally. Baldinelli's next tally on the power play made the score 5-2 Fort Erie with 19:12 left in the third period. Lansfield picked up the assist. Niagara Falls also got points from Sean Farquharson, who also finished with one goal and one assist. In addition, Niagara Falls received assists from Peter Falivena, who had one.

The Meteors' Riley Daniels stopped 36 shots out of the 39 that he faced. Fort Erie registered one goal on five power play opportunities. Team's Tristan Drescher, Evans, and Manny Manns were slapped with misconducts and ejected from the game. Josh Horner rejected 13 shots on goal for Niagara Falls. For the Canucks, Taggart Ledyard and Patrick McCabe were ejected from the contest.