Fighting Saints Fend off Thunder
October 31, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the second time this season, defenseman Keegan Ford sent the Dubuque Fighting Saints home happy with an overtime-winning goal. His tally three-and-a-half minutes into the extra session on a centering pass from Petter Mäkitalo along the half boards erased a furious comeback from the Bloomington Thunder in a 4-3 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Ford now leads all defensemen in the USHL with five goals, and continued the Fighting Saints' undefeated mark in overtimes (4-0).
The Thunder clawed their way back into the game after falling behind 3-0. The comeback concluded with a tremendous goal by Logan Lambdin halfway through the third period. On the power play, he streaked through the Fighting Saints defense and stashed a backhand-forehand move through Hunter Miska, tying the game at three all.
Bloomington took 19:55 to score in the second period. Miska made an acrobatic save seconds before Blake Gober netted a sharp-angle slap shot on the power play. That had cut the lead to one at the time.
Tarek Baker pounced on a turnover and made a fancy move to score shorthanded in the first period.
Dubuque struck three times in the first period, very similarly to Friday night's contest in Des Moines. Makitalo took a feed in the slot from Willie Knierim and snapped a shot through starter Hayden Lavigne to make it 1-0 six minutes into the contest.
Lavigne's night would be cut short, when Jakob Romo collected his first goal of the season, and in the process, his first USHL goal, to make it 2-0 Saints. Romo found himself behind the defense after Trey Dodd found him all along with a feed in front.
Michael O'Leary's first USHL goal, a redirection of a shot by Spenser Young, chased Lavigne, and brought in backup Logan Halladay, who would stop 18 of the final 19 shots of the game.
Lavigne ended his night with one save on four shots.
Bloomington's power play ended the night 2-for-5. Dubuque's power play went without a tally for the second straight game.
The road trip will continue for one more game in Madison, and then the Dubuque Fighting Saints will return home to host the Chicago Steel at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, November 7. Chicago Blackhawks Night, sponsored by Dubuque Fire Equipment, features NHL mascot Tommy Hawk. Tickets are available, including the TH Media Family 4 Pack, by calling the box office at 563.583.6880, or by going online to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2015
- Des Moines loses 5-1 - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Stampede Spooked by Phantoms at PREMIER Center - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Gornet to Harvard - Sioux City Musketeers
- Lancers Down First Place Stars, 5-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Lumberjacks Fall to the Green Bay Gamblers on Halloween - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stars Fall 5-2 to Lancers - Lincoln Stars
- Gamblers Complete the Weekend Sweep - Green Bay Gamblers
- Huge Comeback Gives Thunder Point in OT - Bloomington Thunder
- Fighting Saints Fend off Thunder - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lincoln escapes with 2-1 win over Musketeers - Sioux City Musketeers
- U.S. National U17 Team Edges Canada Red, 4-3, in Regulation - U.S. National Team
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.
Other Recent Dubuque Fighting Saints Stories
- Saints Even Series with Shutout Win
- Saints Even Series with Shutout Win
- Fighting Five: Saints Host Phantoms for Game 2
- Saints Fall in Game 1 of Conference Semifinals
- Saints Drop Game 1 of East Semis
