Fighting Saints Roll to 5-2 Win over Musketeers Tuesday Night
Published on February 12, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa -Five different players scored, and the Dubuque Fighting Saints won for the eighth straight time, beating the Sioux City Musketeers 5-2 Tuesday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center. Peter Quenneville, Frankie DiChiara, Shane Sooth, and Brandon Carlson all scored in the victory, which was the Fighting Saints 34th of the season.
Goaltender Connor Girard returned to Dubuque just a week after being traded to the Musketeers by the Fighting Saints. Making his third straight start for Sioux City, Girard received a nice obviation from the crowd of 1,784 fans in attendance. The Fighting Saints were not as friendly to Girard, scoring five times on their former teammate en route to the win.
The scoring started 5:05 into the game. Peter Quenneville notched his 20thgoal of the season early in the game on a jam play from the left side of the net. Mike Szmatula danced around behind the net, cutting left then right, only to dish the puck to Quenneville on the far side. Quenneville wacked a shot past Girard for the tally to make it 1-0. The goal was Quenneville's first since January 18 and was assisted by Szmatula and Keegan Ford.
The Musketeers opened the second period with a quick strike to tie the game at one. Jake Guentzel scored a powerplay goal at 38 seconds. The forward crashed the net and tipped a Blacke Heinrich wrister from the point past Christian Frey's blocker to even the score.
Dubuque would notch a pair of goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. Frankie DiChiara and Niklas Nevalainen would both get on the scoresheet in the game's middle frame. DiChiara's goal was his 19th of the season and came on a beautiful pass and hard work from linemate John Stevens. With Sioux City in control of the puck behind the net, Stevens took it away and skated behind the goal, gathering the puck through a maze of players and sending a pass cross-crease to DiChiara on the right side doorstep for the goal at 11:50. Nevalainen scored three minutes later at 14:13 on a wrist shot from the left point that hit bodies in front, popped in the air, off Girard's back, and in for the goal.
Sioux City made the contest close in the third period with another powerplay goal from Jared Thomas at 10:38. However the Fighting Saints would close the door on Sioux City with two quick powerplay goals of their own. Only six seconds into a man advantage Shane Sooth tipped a Nevalainen shot past Girard from the high slot for his 10th goal of the season at 12:00. Then later in the game with only five seconds gone on a powerplay, Brandon Carlson crashed the net and jammed in the rebound off a Mike Downing slapshot for his fourth goal of the season at 18:59 and that sealed the deal.
The game was themed as Saints Valentine's Day, but there was no love lost between the two teams as many scrums and scuffles ensued late in the game. Dubuque went 2-for-8 on the powerplay and Sioux City went 2-for-4. The Fighting Saints outshot Sioux City in the game, 26-21. Frey earned his second win for the Fighting Saints stopping 19 shots.
Dubuque is now 20-1-0 at home this season and improved to 34-6-3 on the season. The Fighting Saints have picked up points in 13 straight games, dating back to January 5. In that stretch, they are 12-0-1.
The Fighting Saints complete a three-game homestand this Friday versus the Green Bay Gamblers in an Eastern Conference battle. Dubuque will take part in the national event of Hockey Weekend Across America, and the evening is a BLACK OUT presented by Truck County. The Fighting Saints will be wearing special black uniforms that will be auctioned off following the game with proceeds to benefit the Dubuque Youth Hockey Association. The Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey's top player, will also be at the arena. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 and online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2013
- Fighting Saints Roll to 5-2 Win over Musketeers Tuesday Night - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 21 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 21 - Omaha Lancers
- Hawks Flummoxed by Force - Waterloo Black Hawks
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