Saints One Win Away from Clark Cup After 4-1 Win Saturday
May 11, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa-The Dubuque Fighting Saints are one win away from capping off an incredible season. Thanks to a pair of goals from Peter Quenneville, the Fighting Saints beat the Fargo Force 4-1 in Game 2 of the Clark Cup Final Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,110 at the Mystique Community Ice Center. Goaltender Arthur Brey was sharp between the pipes for Dubuque making 25 saves and earning the game's first star. With the win, Dubuque took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series and will have a chance to win the Clark Cup in Fargo next Friday night.
The Fighting Saints would score a pair of goals in the game's opening frame thanks to the Alberta duo of Quenneville and Matt Benning. Quenneville struck first at 11:14 of the first period on a slapshot that powered its way past Force goaltender Brendan Jensen. Frankie DiChiara worked the puck over the blueline to Quenneville on the left wing. The forward cocked his stick back and fired a lazer that the Force netminder never saw to make it 1-0 Dubuque at 11:14.
Three minutes later, Benning scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal. The blueliner collected the puck in his own zone and rushed it up ice. Benning walked into the Fargo zone down the right wing side and left a wrist shot go. The low shot found its way through Jensen and into the back of the net to double Dubuque's lead, and the soft goal ended Jensen's night as he was pulled in favor of Cameron Johnson. Benning's goal was unassisted and was his first of the playoffs and came at 14:52 of the first period.
After the goaltending change, Fargo picked up their play and scored early into the second period to cut Dubuque's lead in half. After a scramble in front, the puck popped free to Alex Iafallo who flipped the puck over a fallen Brey to make it 2-1 Dubuque at 1:16 of the second period.
Other than that one goal, Brey was flawless. The netminder was strong between the pipes, staying square to the puck and showing good rebound control. Brey earned his eighth victory of the playoffs and has only allowed two goals in his last three starts.
Quenneville added his second goal of the game only three minutes after Iafallo's tally to give Dubuque its two goal lead back in the second period. Mike Szmatula worked the puck behind the goal on the powerplay and dished a pass in front to Quenneville who wristed a shot over Johnson's glove to make it 3-1 Dubuque. The tally was the only Johnson would allow in the game as he made a strong case to start Game 3 for Fargo after stopping 27 shots in relief.
Brey and Dubuque would hold off Fargo in the third period and Szmatula would add an empty netter with six seconds to play to seal the deal. Dubuque outshot Fargo 35-26 and went 1-for-2 on the powerplay. Fargo was 0-for-1 on the powerplay in the game.
With the sold-out crowd, the Fighting Saints welcomed their 100,000th fan of the season at Saturday's game. This number includes all pre-season, regular season, and post-season games played at the Mystique Community Ice Center during the 2012-13 campaign. Saturday's game was the tenth sellout of the year for Dubuque.
The series shifts to Fargo next weekend. Game 3 will be played Friday night at 7:35 p.m. at the Scheels Arena. If necessary, Game 4 would be Saturday night at 7:05 p.m in Fargo. The Fighting Saints will be hosting watch parties for both games at Courtside, located at 2095 Holliday Drive in Dubuque. If necessary, the series would return to Dubuque on Tuesday, May 21 for a decisive Game 5 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available for that game by calling 563.583.6880 or visiting DubuqueFightingSaints.com. Fans will receive a refund if the game is not played.
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United States Hockey League Stories from May 11, 2013
- 2013 Clark Cup Final Recap - Game Two - USHL
- Saints One Win Away from Clark Cup After 4-1 Win Saturday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Fighting Saints to Welcome 100,000th Fan of the Season Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- U.S. Beats France, 4-2, at Men's World Championship - U.S. National Team
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