Three Goal Third Pushes Saints to 6-3 Win over Des Moines
March 3, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
URBANDALE, Iowa - Despite playing three games in three nights, the Dubuque Fighting Saints finished off the weekend with a third period push that saw them score three times to earn a 6-3 win Sunday evening in Des Moines over the Buccaneers. A.J. Fossen and Peter Quenneville scored twice, and the Fighting Saints finished up the weekend by collecting five of a possible six points in three games.
The Fighting Saints took a 3-2 lead into the game's final frame and scored twice on the powerplay and added a late breakaway goal by Jarrid Privitera to capture the win. The game-winning goal came from Mike Downing at 8:26 of the third on a shot from the left side half boards that eluded Des Moines goaltender Nick Ellis and found its way into the goal for Downing's third goal of the year to up the score to 4-2.
After Des Moines got the goal right back to make it 4-3 when Axel Wemmenborn scored on the powerplay at 10:09, the Fighting Saints shoved rback with a Peter Quenneville powerplay tally at 12:25. The strike was another goal that Ellis would like back, as Quenneville fired a slapshot from the top of the faceoff circle that Ellis saw all the way, but squeezed its way through the goaltender to make it 5-3. Quenneville's goal was his second of the game and 26th of the season, assisted by Niklas Nevalainen and Jeff Taylor.
While Des Moines would have liked to get a big save from its goaltender, the Fighting Saints did from Christian Frey. Originally a Buccaneer draft pick and a member of Des Moines in 2011-12, Frey came to his old home and shut down the Buccaneers with several big saves in the game's first two periods, including denying Axel Wemmenborn on a penalty shot midway through the game's opening frame. Frey improved to 5-1-0 with the Fighting Saints and stopped 32 shots.
Dubuque capitalized all game on Des Moines turnovers. Only 1:16 into the game, Shane Sooth stole the puck behind the net for the Fighting Saints and fed it in front to Peter Quenneville who scored his 25th goal of the season.
Fossen would add two goals off turnovers, with the first extending Dubuque's lead to 2-0 at 5:51 of the first period. Fossen picked off a pass in the slot and wristed a shot past Ellis' blocker for his eighth goal of the year. At 7:13 of the second period, Fossen added his second goal on a highlight reel play where he scored falling to the seat of his pants. Joe Manno intercepted a pass in neutral ice and skated in on a two-on-one with Fossen. He fired a pass to Fossen who was denied by Ellis, but while toppling over, Fossen chipped the rebound into the top of the net to make it 3-0.
Des Moines scored two goals in the second period to make the game close, but a third period push by Dubuque earned them the win, and improved their record to 37-9-4. The Fighting Saints were 2-for-3 on the powerplay. Des Moines was 1-for-2. The Buccaneers outshot the Fighting Saints 35-31.
Next weekend Dubuque is home for a pair of games. The Fighting Saints host Sioux City on Friday at 7:35 p.m. and play a Prairie Farm Cowbell Cup game with Waterloo on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. That game is High School Rivalry Night and the first 1,000 fans get a Fighting Saints Drawstring Backpack. Tickets are available to both games by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2013
- Three Goal Third Pushes Saints to 6-3 Win over Des Moines - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Bucs vs Dubuque Today - Des Moines Buccaneers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
