Fighting Saints Rally for Four Goals Late in Third, Win 4-1
Published on January 14, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota - The Fighting Saints proved it's not how you start, but how you finish, rallying for four goals in the span of just over three minutes late in the third period to get the 4-1 win in front of a stunned crowd of 3,472 Stampede fans in Sioux Falls.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, despite chances for both sides to get onto the scoreboard first. The Fighting Saints had a pair of strong powerplay chances come up scoreless in the frame, and the Stampede led 10-6 in shots after the first twenty minutes.
Todd Skirving put Sioux Falls on the scoreboard just under four minutes into the second period, scooping up the puck in the neutral zone and firing it off the crossbar and into the goal on the glove side of Matt Morris. Neither team found the back of the net in the remainder of the period, giving the Fighting Saints a 1-0 deficit as the game headed to the third frame.
Late in the third period, it seemed like the Fighting Saints would have a long bus ride back back to Dubuque, but four quick strikes between the 15:01 mark and 18:05 mark of the final frame gave the Fighting Saints the win. Cody Bradley got the scoring started with the Saints on the powerplay, redirecting a feed from Max Gardiner to tie the game as the clock ticked inside five minutes. Teddy Doherty was credited with the secondary assist. Less than a minute later, Eric Freschi worked the puck to Caito along the right wall. Caito fired a shot towards the net, and Shane Sooth redirected it through his legs to give the Saints the 2-1 lead.
Just over a minute after the Fighting Saints took the league, Gardiner crashed to the net and jammed a puck home, stretching the lead to 3-1. Freschi got the assist, and his second point, on the play. Kevin Morris capped the rally and gave the Fighting Saints a 4-1 lead when he added an empty net goal - just over three minutes after the scoring started. Matt Morris kept the Fighting Saints in the game all night and was rewarded with the win, stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced.
Saturday's game was the only game of the week for the Fighting Saints, who will play three games in three days over each of the next two weekends. The team returns home for a meeting with Team USA on Thursday, followed by a trip to Cedar Rapids on Friday, and a matchup with the conference rival Indiana Ice on Saturday night.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2012
- Despite 'Desperate' Third Period, Phantoms Fall to Team USA 6-4 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Stunned by Dubuque in Final Minutes - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Fighting Saints Rally for Four Goals Late in Third, Win 4-1 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lancers Defeat Lincoln 6-3 to Move into First Place - Omaha Lancers
- Gamblers Push Past Lumberjacks 6-4 - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fighting Saints Close out First Half of Season Tonight in Sioux Falls - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Allow Eight Goals to Fargo, Lose 8-1 - Tri-City Storm
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