Fighting Five: Saints Host Steel to Finish Season Series
April 6, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (39-12-3-5, 86 pts) host the Chicago Steel (27-25-3-4, 61 pts) to wrap up a home-and-home on Saturday night.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Hot Hendrickson
Beckett Hendrickson continued his scoring streak for the Fighting Saints on Friday, scoring his seventh goal in 13 games with the Saints and his fourth in his last three. Overall, the tally was Hendrickson's 25th of the season.
Over his 13 games with the Saints, Hendrickson has contributed 15 points and two game-winning goals of his seven. In his last four games Hendrickson has eight points for Dubuque.
2. Gavin's Goal
Entering Friday night's contest against the Steel, Gavin Cornforth had assisted goals in back-to-back games for his 14th and 15th assists of the season.
On Friday, Cornforth buried his 15th goal of the season to tie the game early in the third period. The second-year Saint has shattered his point total of 10 from his rookie year and notched his 30th point of the season with the goal.
3. Steady Saints
After fending off the lone penalty kill they faced on Friday, the Fighting Saints have completely stopped opposing power plays in 11 of the last 13 games. Dubuque allowed three goals on seven kills in a pair of back-to-back wins over Madison and Green Bay two weeks ago.
In the other 11 games during this stretch, Dubuque has killed off all 32 penalties against. The Saints penalty kill is at 85.3% for the season, leading the Eastern Conference.
4. Juraj's Kind of Town
Juraj Pekarcik has nine points during the season series against the Steel this season. Over three games, Pekarcik has a goal and eight assists for the Fighting Saints after adding a helper on Hendrickson's goal on Friday.
In total, Pekarcik has eight goals and 46 assists this season for 54 points. His 46 assists are the second-most in the USHL.
5. Steel Stamps
Chicago clinched the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference with Friday night's shootout win against the Saints. Dubuque held Chicago's top line in check for most of Friday's game until Chicago pulled the goaltender late in search of a tying goal.
Charlie Major and Michael Hage assisted on Michael Emerson's tying goal late in regulation. Major, Hage and linemate Mick Thompson have combined for 206 points this season, while the entire rest of the Steel roster has 294 points combined. The trio combined for three goals and six points on Feb. 2 in the first meeting of the season between the teams, before the Saints held all three off the scoresheet in their win at Chicago on March 24.
Saturday's game begins at 7:05 p.m. CDT and tickets can be purchased here. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2024
- Phantoms Pick Up Gritty 3-1 Victory Over Green Bay - Youngstown Phantoms
- Steel Fall 4-2 in Loss to Dubuque - Chicago Steel
- Storm Wins 6-3 Over Stampede On Youth Hockey Night - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers Win Season Series vs. Stars - Lincoln Stars
- Lancers Beat Stars; Wins Season Series - Omaha Lancers
- Hawks Have Another Big Night - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Herd Clinches First Clark Cup Playoff Berth Since 2019 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lumberjacks Swept by Under-18 Team After 4-2 Saturday Loss - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Storm Set for Youth Hockey Night at Viaero Center - Tri-City Storm
- Rewind: Taking a Look Back at Last Night's Action in the USHL - USHL
- Gameday Preview - Lincoln Stars
- Fighting Five: Saints Host Steel to Finish Season Series - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Drops Shootout Decision to Stampede - Tri-City Storm
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