NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- For nearly 27 minutes on Friday night, the Berkshire Battalion was holding its own against its rivals from the south.

 

Then Danbury earned its first power play opportunity.

 

Three minutes -- and two power-play goals -- later, the Whalers had a 3-0 lead en route to a 7-1 Federal Hockey League win at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink.

 

First-place Danbury (12-4) ended up going 3-for-3 on the power play while Berkshire went 0-for-3 in falling to 8-9 this season. 

 

"The power play obviously is the big gorilla in the room," Berkshire coach Dan Farrell said. "We almost want to decline 'em.

 

"Five-on-five, we're with anybody, I think."

 

After falling behind on an even strength goal in the sixth minute, Berkshire had two golden opportunites to strike back in the 14th minute of the game.

 

First, Berkshire was awarded a penalty shot out of a scramble in front of Danbury goaltender Mike Brown (38 saves).

 

Martin Uhnak took the penalty try, but Brown denied him with 6 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first period.

 

Twenty seconds later, Berkshire appeared to score on a two-on-one opportunity. Matthew Hamilton set up Mike McCurtain, who lit the lamp - or so it seemed to everyone in attandance.

 

But after the three officials conferred, they decided that the puck was redirected into the goal with a skate blade, the goal was taken off the scoreboard and Danbury held on for a 1-0 lead.

 

"There were a couple of goals that got called back on us tonight," Farrell said. "Hats off to Danbury. They're a class organization. Hats off to their goaltender, Brownie, who was unbelievable.

 

"If a couple of those pucks that everybody -- including a few Danbury guys -- said they thought went in [had counted], that's a momentum changer. ... And teams feed off momentum and feed off of energy.

 

"That's a difference maker."

 

Berkshire earned the first power play chance of the game early in the second period, but despite maintaining possession in Danbury's end most of the two minutes, the Battalion could not squeak one past Brown.

 

With 13:11 on the clock in the second, Danbury earned its first man-up opportunity. One minute later, Berkshire was whistled for a second infraction, giving the visitors 1:02 of 5-on-3 hockey.

 

The Whalers cashed in 50 seconds into the two-man advantage to make it 2-0. And they added a third goal before the second penalty expired.

 

Jordan Ciccarello (two goals, one assist) scored his first of the game on another Danbury powerplay with 2:34 left in the second to send the Whalers into the locker room with a 4-0 lead.

 

It was 6-0 midway through the third before Berkshire finally got on the board. Michael Dolman and Lester Brown set up Vadim Guskov to avoid the shutout.

 

Louie George stopped 34 shots for Berkshire, which gets another crack at Danbury on Saturday night in Connecticut before coming home to face Dayton on Sunday afternoon.

 

"Honestly, I'm still reasonably happy with the club," Farrell said. "If there's one thing I know about this group, it's that it will battle back. I certainly expect a better game tomorrow, even though it's at Danbury. For some odd reason, we play our better hockey on the road."

 

More photos from this game to come.