Fighting Five: Saints Open Series in Youngstown
February 29, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (30-10-3-3, 66 pts) open a road-series against the Youngstown Phantoms (26-13-4-3, 59 pts) on Friday night.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Conference Clash
The Saints are in the midst of a stretch playing 12 of 13 games against the Eastern Conference. To open March, the Fighting Saints have a magic number of nine points to clinch a Clark Cup playoff berth.
Despite the Saints' point streak ending at 10 with last Saturday's loss to Madison, Dubuque is still the only Eastern Conference team with points in nine of its last 10 games.
2. Potent Power
Dubuque's power play still paces the league at 33.5% after scoring twice on three opportunities last weekend. In the last 10 games, the Fighting Saints have been even more lethal on the power play, going 11-for-30 (36.7%).
Jake Sondreal is tied for the league-lead with 23 points on the power play this season, scoring 10 power-play goals. The captain has 14 career power-play goals and is one away from tying the Saints' modern franchise record for a career. Noah Powell's 11 power-play goals are also tied for the USHL lead this season.
Last weekend, Charlie Arend scored his first power-play goal of the season, while Nick Romeo added his fourth.
3. Depth Delivers
In last Friday's win, the Saints fourth line combined for four goals in an 8-4 victory. ??Three of the four players rotating in on the fourth line in Friday's contest recorded multiple points.
Josh Giuliani scored twice and recorded his first-career three-point game. Teddy Merrill also recorded his first three-point game in the win, scoring and adding two assists. Both Giuliani and Merrill have 17 points in their roles on the Saints' fourth line this season.
Romeo's power-play goal finished the four-goal night for the fourth line. Overall, Merrill, Giuliani, Romeo and Andrew King have combined for 23 goals and 61 points as the Saints' fourth-line crew this season.
4. Killing Time
The Saints penalty kill stopped 15-straight chances before allowing a goal Saturday night and leads the Eastern Conference at 83.2%.
Still, in the past 10 games, Dubuque's kill is stopping opposing power plays at an 84.6% rate. Youngstown's power-play scored once in six chances against the Saints during their series in November in Dubuque.
5. Phantom Facts
The Phantoms are one of the best home teams in the USHL, entering the weekend with a 15-1-1-1 record at the Covelli Centre. Two of their three losses came in early January in a two-game series against the Omaha Lancers, losing once in regulation and once in a shootout.
The Phantoms are three games into an eight game homestand and have won the first three games of that stretch. The Phantoms trail the saints by seven points and have 14 of their final 19 regular season games at home.
Friday's puck-drop is scheduled for 7:05 EST/6:05 CST at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
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