USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Szmatula's Pair Helps Saints Open Clark Cup Final

Published on May 10, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa-Mike Szmatula scored a pair of goals in the first period, and a strong special teams effort helped the Dubuque Fighting Saints earn a 4-1 win in Game 1 of the Clark Cup Final Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center in front of 2,737 fans. The Fighting Saints scored a pair of powerplay goals and added a shorthanded tally in the victory. Dubuque leads the best-of-five series 1-0.

With Fargo up 1-0 on an early Kenny Gillespie goal only 2:59 into the game, Szmatula would not only tie the game for Dubuque, but also give the Fighting Saints a lead with back-to-back goals in the first period. Szmatula's first goal came at the 6:26 mark of the game's opening frame on the powerplay. Shane Sooth worked the puck to Szmatula on the right wing along the goal line. Szmatula stepped out, and roofed a shot up and underneath the crossbar for his fifth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at one. Three minutes later at 9:41, Szmatula struck again on a great passing play. Sooth collected the puck behind the net to Peter Quenneville. The Dubuque forward, making his return after missing the last two games due to a lower body injury, dished the puck in front to Szmatula who fired a low shot that found the back of the net to make it 2-1 Dubuque.

Both goals were scored on Fargo netminder Brendan Jensen, who was not listed as the starting goaltender for the Force on the game rosters submitted by Fargo's coaching staff prior to the game. Cameron Johnson was set to start in goal, but when the teams took the ice, it was Jensen in net.

Dubuque would victimize the Fargo netminder once more on the powerplay late in the first period. NIklas Nevalainen pushed the puck over the goal line in a mad scramble in front of the goal past a sprawled Jensen to make it 3-1 Dubuque at 18:42. Szmatula picked up his third point of the game with the lone assist on the tally. The Dubuque forward picked the puck up in the slot and let a shot go while falling to his back. Jensen made the save, but the rebound escaped him and trickled loose in the crease for Nevalainen.

While the powerplay was key for Dubuque in the opening period, it was the penalty key that made the impact in the second period for the Fighting Saints. Not only did Dubuque kill off two minor penalties, but they also found the back of the net courtesy of a blunder by Jensen. With Evan Janssen in the box for hooking, Dubuque cleared the puck down the ice. John Stevens chased after it and Jensen charged out of his goal to play the puck out of danger. Stevens read the play and picked off the Jensen's clearing attempt, then fired the puck into the empty net for his first goal of the playoffs. The unassisted tally came at 13:42 and gave Dubuque a commanding three-goal lead.

In the third period the Fighting Saints prevented Fargo from having any attempt at a comeback as they outshot the Force 6-1 in the game's final frame. Arthur Brey earned the win in goal for the Fighting Saints with 18 saves, including several scrambled along the goal line in the second period. Dubuque outshot Fargo 29-19 in the game. The Fighting Saints went 2-for-4 on the powerplay while Fargo was 0-for-2.

Friday's game was presented by Mystique Casino and was a Salute to First Responders. Members of local law enforcement, fire, and emergency management were honored, and the Fighting Saints donated $2 from every individual ticket purchased over the last two days to the Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility.

The two teams take the ice tomorrow for Game 2 at Mystique Community Ice Center. Puck drop is 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or visiting DubuqueFightingSaints.com. The game will also televised live on KCRG 9.2.

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 10, 2013


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