USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Saints Fall to Steel, 5-4 in Shootout

Published on September 16, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - Despite grabbing a pair of leads throughout the contest, the Fighting Saints were unable to hold a third period advantage for the third time in three games this preseason.

Chicago struck first in the opening frame. A Fighting Saints miscue behind the net allowed Phillip Marinaccio to scoop up the puck, move to the left post and feed Zach Saar on the right side to give the Chicago Steel an early lead.

Though it would take some time for the Fighting Saints to get going offensively, they would score two quick goals in the opening frame. Mike Matheson got Dubuque onto the board initially with a powerplay blast from the left point after Shane Sooth, who got the puck from Zemgus Girgensons, fed him from down low. Just sixteen seconds later, Teddy Doherty sent a puck in from the same left point. With his stick on the ice, Lawrence Cornellier redirected the puck over the glove of Mathias Dahlstrom to give the Fighting Saints a 2-1 lead - a lead that they would take into the first intermission.

Saar was not done offensively, however. The big Chicago forward opened the scoring in the second period, redirecting a puck through the five-hole of Dubuque netminder Reid Mimmack to tie the game. Saar would strike once more for the hat-trick - driving the puck down the left side of the ice and putting it over the shoulder of Mimmack to give Chicago a 3-2 lead in the second period.

Dubuque was able to respond with a pair of goals of their own. Shane Walsh redirected a Mike Matheson feed from the left point to knot the game once more. Shane Sooth picked up the secondary assist on the tally. With the Fighting Saints shorthanded after a rash of second period penalties, Kevin Morris gave Dubuque the lead once more. After Zemgus Girgensons freed the puck on the forecheck, Morris put it into the back of the net to restore the Fighting Saints lead at 4-3 headed into the final period.

Early on in the final period, a pinballing puck leaked past Mimmack to bring the Steel even with the Fighting Saints once more. Charlie O'Connor got credit for the powerplay goal. Chicago went 2 for 8 on the powerplay, with the Fighting Saints finishing 1 for 2.

Neither team was able to score in the remainder of the period, so the two sides headed to overtime. Despite a penalty shot awarded to Chicago late in the additional five minutes, neither team broke through, and the Fighting Saints found themselves in a shootout for the second time in as many games. In the shootout, Dahlstrom was slightly better than Mimmack, and Chicago came away with the victory.

Dahlstrom made 37 saves on the night, while Mimmack collected 18 stops.

The Fighting Saints will travel to play the Steel in Darien, IL tomorrow night. Follow the game on Twitter, Facebook, and DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2011


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