Comeback Falls Short as Steel Beat Saints 4-3 Saturday
March 7, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
BENSENVILLE, IL- Dubuque rallied in the third period, but former Fighting Saint J.D. Dudek scored the game-winning goal for the Chicago Steel to earn his new club a 4-3 win over the Fighting Saints Saturday night at the Edge Ice Arena. Dubuque got goals in the third period from Brian Bowen and Dylan Gambrell, but Dudek's goal at 15:41 of the third period proved to be much more than just insurance for the Steel.
Saturday's game started later than expected, with the puck drop pushed back nearly 40 minutes. With a the youth Illinois State Championship tournament running long, Saturday's puck drop was delayed, but it didn't stop the Steel from jumping out to an early lead. Chicago scored three first period goals, including a pair of goals in the first 5:13. Tanner Laczynski scored first, beating Dubuque goalie Gavin Nieto on a second attempt from the left wing. Laczynski's first shot was blocked, but the rebound popped back to the forward who beat Nieto with a shot on the ice at 2:41.
The Steel added to their lead with a shorthanded goal at 5:13. The Steel stripped the puck and broke up ice on a 2-on-1 rush. Brendon Kearney accepted the cross-ice pass from John Ernsting and lifted a shot up and over an outstretched Nieto to make it 2-0 Steel.
Chicago would add to its lead at the buzzer on the power play. With the puck tied up along the nearside boards, it appeared time would run out on the period. However, Kearney dug the puck loose and sent it to the goal. It was batted to the far side where Fredrik Oloffson added his team leading 24th goal of the season with only .2 seconds left on the clock, ending the period with Dubuque trailing 3-0.
The Fighting Saints were finally able to find the back of the net mid-way through the second period as Brett Boeing scored his 25th goal of the season shorthanded. Hayden Shaw collected his first point as a member of the Fighting Saints, flipping a pass behind the Chicago defense that Boeing chased down. He made a backhand to forehand move and got Chicago goaltender Lassie Yrola to bite, sliding the puck around the netminder to make it 3-1 Chicago at 16:06.
The Fighting Saints would score again, striking early in the third period to cut the game to 3-2. Sasha Larocque walked the blue line and let a shot go that appeared to change directions. Brian Bowen was credited with the goal, getting a piece of the puck and deflecting it five-hole at 2:54.
Dubuque continued to have multiple chances, as Seamus Malone was denied on a 2-on-0 by Yrola and Mitchell Smith hit the crossbar on a breakaway. With Dubuque failing to equalize, the Steel took advantage and Dudek scored his first as a member of the Steel at 15:41. The puck came to the forward on the left wing. He fired a wrist shot that eluded Nieto and beat the goaltender cleanly on the short side. The tally was Dudek's 7th goal of the year and made it 4-2 Chicago.
Dubuque would make the game close again with an extra-attacker goal by Gambrell with 1:26 remaining in regulation time. The forward scored from an extreme angle, beating Yrola over the shoulder to make it 4-3, but the Steel held on for the win.
The two teams meet again tomorrow for a 3:05 p.m. puck drop Sunday in Dubuque. That afternoon is Superhero Sunday! and Batman will be in attendance. The game is also a TH Media Family 4 Pack game and gives fans a chance to Skate with the Saints after the game. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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