Sucese's Shorty Sets up Saints' Dramatic Win
January 23, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
KEARNEY, Neb. - With the ball in the Tri-City Storm's court, so to speak, the Dubuque Fighting Saints put an end to their three-game losing streak with a dramatic, late goal by Nathan Sucese. His shorthanded goal, followed by an empty netter, added the exclamation point in a 4-2 victory over the Storm at the Viaero Center on Saturday night.
Sucese took a feed from Michael O'Leary, darted through the neutral zone and separated off of the tight checking of Storm defender John Marino on the right wing. His wrist shot, over the pad and under the blocker of Dayton Rasmussen, put the Fighting Saints up 3-2 with 1:36 remaining in the third.
Not to be lost in the win, Hunter Miska had a resurgent effort in Saturday's game, making 28 saves in the win for the Saints. His game-saving save on a clear-cut Wade Allison breakaway opportunity kept the Fighting Saints tied at two apiece late in the third period before Sucese vaulted the team to the lead.
The Fighting Saints' second period turned the tides of the game as they struck twice in expeditious fashion. Very early in the second period, Mitchell Smith took a shot after his own whiff, and while en route to Rasmussen, ticked the stick of Zach Solow. His second goal of the season tied the game up.
Brett Boeing notched his first goal since returning to the Fighting Saints just one minute and 36 seconds later. He slipped a shot through the five hole off of a confident feed from Keegan Mantaro at the point. That put Dubuque up for most of the second period.
That is, until Tri-City's dormant home power play came through with a goal from defenseman Tory Dello to knot the game at two apiece.
Tri-City took the lead midway through the first period when, after a Miska blocker save on Wade Allison, he could not stop the secondary opportunity from Jake Wahlin. His third point of the weekend catapulted Tri-City to the 1-0 lead, which stood after the first 20 minutes of action.
With the win, the Eastern Conference standings remain the same due to Green Bay and Cedar Rapids also picking up wins on Saturday night. The Saints maintain a game in hand over the Gamblers with one point separating the two teams.
Up next for the Fighting Saints is the Sioux City Musketeers in a return home to the Mystique Community Ice Center on Friday, January 29 at 7:35 p.m. Join the Saints for the Celebration of the NHL All-Star Weekend by wearing your favorite hockey jersey to the game. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 563.583.6880, or by going online to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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