USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Hayton Stops Saints to Lead Musketeers to 3-2 Win Shootout Win Friday

Published on March 8, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Sioux City Musketeers are red-hot, and the late season success continued Friday night in Dubuque. The Musketeers topped the USHL's best team, beating the Fighting Saints 3-2 in a shootout in front of 2,297 at the Mystique Community Ice Center. Kyle Hayton was spectacular in goal for Sioux City, kicking aside 36 of 38 shots and stopping both Dubuque attempts in the shootout.

Sioux City help a 2-1 lead in the third period, but a late goal by Frankie DiChaira got Dubuque a point in the standings and extended the game to overtime. DiChiara scored his 23rd goal of the season on a broken play at 13:13 of the third period. The Fighting Saints outshot Sioux City 24-8 over the game's final two periods, but it wasn't until a fortunate bounce off a blocked shot that Dubuque tied the game. Shane Sooth worked the puck back to Niklas Nevalainen at the left point. Nevalainen let a shot go that was tipped to the right side where it slid right onto DiChiara's tape and he capitalized into an open net to even the game.

Dubuque pressured through the rest of regulation and had the best of the chances in overtime, but Hayton made save after save to keep the game tied. In the shootout both Chrisitan Lampasso and Jared Thomas scored for Sioux City past Dubuque goalie Arthur Brey. Thomas' goal was a beautiful move where he cut the puck back with one hand against the grain, and slid it around Brey's pad. Hayton denied both DiChiara and Peter Quenneville for Dubuque to earn Sioux City an extra point in the standings.

Sioux City, winners of seven of their last nine games, played Dubuque tough and held the advantage most of the night. The Musketeers opened the scoring with the lone goal of the first period on a tally that saw Jake Guentzel extended his point streak to nine games. With Sioux City on the powerplay, Guentzel worked the puck off the boards and fired a shot from the right wing. Dubuque's Brey stopped the initial shot, but the rebound popped back to Guentzel who appeared to sneak a shot past Brey while falling to the ice at 5:51. The goal was originally credited to Jake Heinrich with Guentzel assisting however, but replays showed Guentzel knock the puck past Brey.

Dubuque buzzed with chances late in the first period, and the momentum carried over into the second period. With Dubuque on a powerplay for the first 1:22 of the middle frame, the Fighting Saints struck. Matt Benning tied the game at 1:20 on a slapshot from the right point that found its way through a maze of players. The goal was Benning's 8th of the season and the lone assist went to John Stevens. After making save after save, Benning's shot was the one that finally eluded Hayton and slid under his right pad to tie the game at one.

Dubuque outshot Sioux City in the second period 12-3 and the Musketeers only had one quality scoring chance, but they made it count. Jake Montgomery capitalized on a goalmouth scramble and slid a shot past the fallen Brey to give the Musketeers a 2-1 lead. Guentzel walked around Dubuque's Mike Downing and cut towards the goal, firing a shot from the right wing that Brey denied. The rebound popped in the air, and a scramble ensured, before the puck worked its way to Montgomery who struck for the 13th time this season.

The Fighting Saints went 1-for-3 on the man-advantage while the Musketeers were 1-for-1 in the game. The Fighting Saints outshot the Musketeers 38-18 on the night, but fell to 3-4 in shootouts this season. Next Friday the two teams square off for the final time this season in Sioux City.

Tomorrow the Fighting Saints are back in action with a Prairie Farm Cowbell Cup game with Waterloo at 7:05 p.m. The evening is High School Rivalry Night, and the first 1,000 fans get a Fighting Saints Drawstring Backpack. With a victory in regulation, Dubuque can pass Waterloo for first place in the Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup race. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

Check out the Dubuque Fighting Saints Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2013


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