Fighting Five: Saints Host Capitols for First Time
February 23, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (29-9-3-3, 64 pts) host the Madison Capitols (18-18-4-2, 42 pts) for the first time this season on Friday night.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Saints Sweep
Dubuque enters the weekend home-and-home with points in nine-straight games after sweeping their three-game weekend last week. Dubuque logged regulation wins over Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Lincoln to sweep their second three-in-three of the season.
They will have one more chance in late March when they play their fourth, and final, three-in-three of the season against Madison, Green Bay and Chicago.
2. Sondreal Sizzles
Jake Sondreal scored four goals and six points last week on his way to being named USHL Forward of the Week. Sondreal recorded multiple points in all three wins and has 19 multi-point performances this season.
His 58 points are the most in the USHL and he leads the league with 23 power-play points as well. In his 100th career game, Sondreal scored twice last Friday before adding a goal and an assist in each of the next two wins.
3. Colin Converts
Colin Frank ended a 16-game goal-drought with a tally on Friday night against Cedar Rapids. It was his first point since he scored on Dec. 9 at Madison. Then, on Saturday, Frank followed it with his first-career game-winning goal late in the third period.
Frank took a pass from Jake Sondreal and rifled a backhand into the net to give the Saints a lead with just 2:05 remaining in the third period against Des Moines. The California native added a pair of assists in Sunday's win at Lincoln to finish a four-point weekend.
4. Power Pair
Fisher Scott scored twice last weekend, while his defense partner Joona Vaèisaènen added a pair of assists. In total, the pair logged five points and was a plus-3 combined over the weekend.
Over the full season, the Saints' top pair has combined for 53 points and a plus-44 rating. Vaèisaènen's 30 points are the fourth-most by a defenseman in the USHL this season.
5. Caps Crunch
After beginning the season 8-2-2-1 in the first 13 games, the Capitols have struggled since then. Since beating the Saints 6-2 on Dec. 9, the Capitols have lost 12 of their 19 contests. In that stretch, Madison has scored just 2.8 goals-per-game.
Last weekend, the Capitols logged their only win in the last nine games with a 5-4 win over Youngstown to open a three-in-three. The Capitols then lost the next two games to Youngstown and Chicago.
Friday's game begins at 7:05 and tickets can be purchased here. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
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