Solow, Smith Power the Way for Saints
February 13, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints completed a weekend sweep for the first time since the beginning of 2016, as they demolished the Muskegon Lumberjacks 6-2 on Saturday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.
The Saints' penalty kill surrendered the first goal, but it was the energy line of Zach Solow, Dallas Gerads and newcomer Justin Bofshever that paved the way for the win. Solow found a loose puck on the rebound of a Casey Johnson point shot for his first goal of the night, and for his second, stashed home a pass from Bofshever out of the right wing corner with a shelved backhand shot.
As a whole, the line contributed five points on the night. Bofshever tallied his first two USHL points.
The Fighting Saints also got two goals from Evan Smith, who capitalized at two critical moments in the second period. He deflected a Keegan Ford shot on the power play just 28 seconds into the second period, extending the home team's lead to 3-1.
Then, while killing off a five-minute major penalty, received a delicious dish from Mitchell Smith on an odd-man rush and powered a shot through Muskegon netminder Joey Daccord.
Muskegon eventually scored on that power play, getting one of Collin Adams' two goals on the night. After Hunter Miska made a series of saves in the goal mouth, Adams found a way to power the puck home on a third-chance opportunity, cutting Dubuque's lead to 5-2 at the time.
Scrappy forward Dallas Gerads, the reigning USHL Forward of the Week, would not let that stand. Late in the third period, the Minnesotan took a give-and-go feed from Spenser Young, powering the shot into the goal, and establishing the Fighting Saints' largest lead of the night.
Petter Mî=A4kitalo buried a Nathan Sucese shot on a two-on-one break for the eventual game-winning goal. It was his 12th goal of the season, and his fourth goal in the last six games. Daccord made the initial save on Sucese's chance, but Mî=A4kitalo cleaned up the crumbs.
Shots were even at 28 apiece at the final buzzer. Miska earned his 22nd win of the season, which ranks second in the USHL.
Overall, it was a chippy affair, as both teams totaled 52 minutes of penalty time. The Lumberjacks' second-ranked power play tallied twice on six chances, and the Fighting Saints went 1-for-5.
The Fighting Saints take on Dupaco Cowbell Cup rival Waterloo on Friday, February 19 starting at 7:35 p.m. It will be a celebration of Hockey Weekend Across America, encouraging fans to wear their favorite hockey jersey to the game. For tickets, call the box office at 563.583.6880, or go online to DubuqueFightingSaints.com to order today.
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United States Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2016
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