Fighting Five: Saints Turn Back the Clocks against Madison
Published on March 22, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (34-12-3-3, 74 pts) will take the ice to kick off Saint4Life Month in their retro jerseys on Friday night to open the weekend against the Madison Capitols (26-20-4-2, 58 pts).
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Swamp Swept
Despite a delay to start Saturday's game at Muskegon, the Saints finished off a weekend-sweep on the heels of a career-high 37 saves by Kevin Reidler.
Dubuque finished their road-sweep against the Lumberjacks, who entered last weekend just six points back of the Saints for the top spot in the East. Friday's win in Muskegon clinched the Saints their 13th-straight Clark Cup Playoff berth.
2. Triple Threat
This week is the Saints' fourth, and final, three-in-three of the season. Dubuque has swept two of their first three such weekends this season.
The first of those came in December, with the Saints winning at home over Sioux City before taking down Cedar Rapids and Green Bay on the road. They did the same in February, taking down the RoughRiders at home and then beating Des Moines and Lincoln on the road. This weekend is the first three-game weekend the Saints have played with two of the games at home.
3. Saints Stops
The Saints' goaltenders combined to make 65 saves on 66 shots against the second-highest scoring offense in the Eastern Conference last weekend to help the team to a sweep.
Dubuque has catapulted up the defensive rankings in the USHL and has allowed the second-fewest goals overall in the league (165). The Saints' goaltending tandem has been a big part of that over the course of March. In six March games, the Fighting Saints goaltenders have a save percentage of .936 and have added two shutouts.
4. Super Saints
The Fighting Saints enter the weekend with the league's best power play (31.9%) and the USHL's best penalty kill (85.5%).
The Saints have scored nine power-play goals in the last 10 contests, but lately it has been the penalty kill leading the way. In seven opportunities against Muskegon's top-five ranked power play, the Saints penalty kill was flawless.
The only two power-play goals allowed by the Saints in the last 12 games were both against Madison on Feb. 24. In the other 11 games during that stretch, the Saints are a perfect 35-for-35 on the penalty kill.
5. Capitol Gains
The Saints scored eight goals in the lone home matchup against Madison this season on Feb. 23, but since then, including a 3-2 Madison win the following night in Middleton, the Caps have won eight of nine games.
During that stretch, the Capitols have scored 4.6 goals-per-game, a full goal above their season average. The Caps are just behind the Saints in terms of overall defense, having allowed two more goals (167) than Dubuque this season. In their recent stretch, the Caps have allowed just 2.3 goals-per-game.
Friday'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.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2024
- Saints Open Weekend with 6-2 Win over Caps - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks Persist for Victory - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Storm Drops Road Contest to Buccaneers - Tri-City Storm
- Croal Nets Game Winner in Tight 3-2 Win Over Sioux City - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Christian Kocsis Commits to the Mercyhurst Lakers - Omaha Lancers
- Lancers Resume Battle with the Lincoln Stars Before a Home-And-Home with the Des Moines Buccaneers - Omaha Lancers
- Fighting Five: Saints Turn Back the Clocks against Madison - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Set for Three-Game Road Weekend in Iowa - Tri-City Storm
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