Saints Inch Closer to Berth with Shootout Loss to USA
April 6, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa - For the 30th time this season, the Dubuque Fighting Saints battled to a one-goal result, and for the 16th time this season, the Saints forced overtime, but it was Team USA's U17s that came out on top. While the Saints battled back from a 3-1 and a 4-3 deficit, the Saints fell 5-4 in a shootout on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.
Ryder Rolston scored in the top of the fifth round, and Matias Maccelli was unable to respond in the bottom of the fifth to secure the victory. Cole Weaver and Jonathan Mor both put up a blank sheet through four rounds to keep the excitement high in the skills competition.
The Saints had to battle back from two separate deficits to get the game even, and into the extra session in the first place. Down 4-3 on a gorgeous shorthanded tally from John Beecher, the Saints battled back on the same power play. The NTDP couldn't cover a loose puck in the crease, and after it was dug out, Brendan Bushy found Josh Maniscalco, a former member of the program, to tie it at 4.
Prior to that, it took a supreme effort in the second period to erase a 3-1 deficit after the first period. First, it was Quinn Preston on the relay from Chayse Primeau to cut the lead to one at the 14:19 mark of the second, and then it was Alex Steeves on the stretch pass from Aidan Fulp to get the game tied at 18:52 of the second.
The Saints outshot the U17s 11-5 in the middle frame, and continued on with a 10-5 shot advantage in the third period.
USA got the first goal of the night just 53 seconds into the game with Rolston's 20th of the season, but the Saints battled back two minutes later with a goal from Tyce Thompson, who ended the night with three points (goal, two assists). Thompson's point streak extended to six games in the process on a rebound opportunity.
It was the U17s, opportunistic as ever, who untied the game and kept the scoring going. Owen Lindmark connected on a rebound chance, and Danny Weight on a Fighting Saints turnover in the defensive zone to extend the lead to 3-1.
As a result of the shootout loss, the magic number to make the Clark Cup Playoffs has been trimmed down to one. A win of any kind, or an overtime/shootout loss, or a loss of any kind from the Cedar Rapids RoughRIders in the final three games of the regular season will be enough to clinch an eighth consecutive berth into the postseason.
The Saints are back in action against Team USA tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. It's College Night! With a college ID, college students can get a purple zone ticket plus $5 in Saints Bucks for just $10! For tickets, call the box office at 563.583.6880, or go to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2018
- Saints Inch Closer to Berth with Shootout Loss to USA - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Kondelik's Hat Trick Erases Three Goal Deficit in Jacks' OT Win - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede's Rally Comes up Short in Waterloo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Drop Home Game to Lincoln 6-2 - Tri-City Storm
- Phantoms Knock off Chicago 7-4 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stars Press Ahead with 6-2 Win over Storm - Lincoln Stars
- Phantoms Defeat Steel Friday - Chicago Steel
- Gamblers Clinch Clark Cup Playoff Berth with Win - Green Bay Gamblers
- Hawks Take First of Two - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Plunder Buccaneers, 3-1 - Omaha Lancers
- Preview: Storm Set to Host Lincoln in Rivalry Matchup - Tri-City Storm
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