Defensive Effort Stonewalls Steel
January 30, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
CHICAGO - Following a night with a high-octane comeback, Saturday's game had a different pace. A largely defensive effort, with only 23 shots on goal against, 22 saves by goaltender Jaxon Castor, and an early goal by Brett Boeing, all set the tone for the Dubuque Fighting Saints' 4-1 win against the Chicago Steel on Saturday night at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.
Chicago's Jake Gessert cut a 2-0 Fighting Saints to 2-1, capitalizing on a rebound at the side of the goal left out by Castor in the third period. But that was as far as the Steel would get on this night.
Evan Smith was sprung on a partial breakaway down the right wing side after a missed pass to the point from Chicago's Christiano Versich to Karlis Cukste. The lefty shot buried the puck off the left post and in through Steel goalie Daniel Vladar to provide insurance. Just two minutes later, Petter Mî=A4kitalo hit the double-digit mark in goals with his tenth of the year into a vacant net in the final minute of the third.
Returning to action this weekend, Colin Theisen tallied his second goal in as many games with a centering pass that ticked the stick of new Steel acquisition Trevor Hamilton, lifting the Saints to a 2-0 lead. That followed a five-minute power play opportunity in which the man advantage unit could not capitalize, nor generate much.
Conversely, the Steel power play was given a glorious chance. Down by just one in the third period, the chance was there to tie, or even go ahead, with a 5-on-3 power play opportunity for over one minute. The kill, along with Castor, however, came up big in that moment, and stifled the chance.
Neither team could capitalize on any power play opportunity on this night. Castor made his best save of the game on the league's second best power play goal scorer, Jake Jaremko, as the Arizona native cuffed down a clear-cut shot from the left circle and covered up for the whistle.
Boeing tallied a mere three minutes into the first period, following a pass out of the corner by Gordie Green. That set the table for the Fighting Saints, who outshot Chicago 10-8, and allowed close to nothing through the first 10 minutes of the game itself.
Chicago took three of the four meetings in the season series, but, as a result of the win, the Fighting Saints pull into a tie with the Green Bay Gamblers for second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Dubuque Fighting Saints will remain home for essentially the entire month of February. The home stretch starts on Friday, February 5 for Mommies and Minions Night, sponsored by Alliant Energy. Join Stuart, Kevin, and Bob as they search for their new boss here in Dubuque. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 563.583.6880, or by going online to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2016
- Bucs double-up on Musketeers - Sioux City Musketeers
- Cedar Rapids Squeak Past Phantoms in Overtime - Youngstown Phantoms
- Defensive Effort Stonewalls Steel - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Dubuque Fights Off Season Sweep With 4-1 Win - Chicago Steel
- Musketeers lose Saturday, 2-1 - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Review Gets Storm to OT, Force Wins, 3-2 - Tri-City Storm
- Thunder Bounce Back, Score Six - Bloomington Thunder
- Stampede Swept in Waterloo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Nifty 50 for Morris - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Bloomington Earns Weekend Split with 6-3 Win - Omaha Lancers
- Stars Top Capitols, 5-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Lightning Quick: Lincoln Attack Too Much for Caps - Madison Capitols
- Caps Continue Westward Trek to Lincoln - Madison Capitols
- Thunder and Lancers Battle in Game 2 - Bloomington Thunder
- Stars Seek Revenge against Capitols - Lincoln Stars
- Musketeers Wrap up Road Stint in Des Moines Tonight - Sioux City Musketeers
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