Fighting Saints Knock off Roughriders 5-3
Published on January 6, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Fighting Saints wasted no time to put the offense to work, scoring four goals in the first period en route to a 5-3 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in front of 2,766 fans in Dubuque on Friday night.
Nick Saracino tallied the first goal of the game for Cedar Rapids not even three minutes into play. He received a pass from Greg Amlong, drove in on Fighting Saints netminder Matt Morris, and made a backhand finish to put Cedar Rapids into the lead. On the very next shift, Matt Caito and Shane Walsh set up Zemgus Girgensons, who made his return to the team after playing for Latvia in the World Junior Championships, for the Fighting Saints first goal.
Girgensons tally was followed just over a minute later by a goal from Max Gardiner, who was returning to the Fighting Saints lineup from an injury. Jono Davis and Cody Bradley got credit for the assists on Gardiner's goal, his fourth of the season. A pass from below the goalline by Tyler Lundey to Eliot Grauer, who was waiting in the slot, allowed Grauer to one-time the puck home and give the Fighting Saints a 3-1 lead not seven minutes into the first frame. TJ Moor was credited with the secondary assist on Grauer's goal.
Cedar Rapids would answer back in the high-scoring first period. Nick Saracino attempted to wrap a puck around Morris, who made a pad save and kicked the puck through the crease. Gerald Mayhew corralled the rebound and scored into the open net, puling the RoughRiders to within one goal of the Fighting Saints lead.
The Saints would extend the lead quickly. On the ensuing shift, Cody Bradley pounded a puck home from the top of the left circle, pushing the Fighting Saints lead to 4-2. Gardiner set up Bradley for his second point of the night on the score.
After the wild first period, neither team scored in the second frame, despite plenty of quality opportunities for both sides. In the third period, the Fighting Saints extended their lead once again, with Lundey making a pretty move to the net to make it 5-2. Moor got his second assist of the night on the play.
Though Dennis Kravchenko added a goal for the RoughRiders in the final minute, the Fighting Saints preserved the lead to come away with a 5-3 win and finish their longest homestand of the season with a 4-1-1 record over six games.
The Fighting Saints will play on the road for the first time since early December Saturday night, travelling to Waterloo to play the Black Hawks. The Fighting Saints will next be home on Thursday, January 19, when they host Team USA at the Mystique Community Ice Center. -- Patrick Murray Broadcast and Media Relations Coordinator Dubuque Fighting Saints 2011 Clark Cup Champions D:563-587-2216 C: 563-495-3915 F: 563-583-6257 Tix: 563-583-6880 pmurray@dubuquefightingsaints.com
United States Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2012
- League's Best Team Rolls Past Storm, 8-1 - Tri-City Storm
- Power Play Awakes, Phantoms Bury Rival Lumberjacks 7-3 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Fighting Saints Knock off Roughriders 5-3 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Stampede Rally, But Can't Stop Stars in Lincoln - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Jacks Outpaced by Phantoms in Youngstown - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Ice Beat Hawks, Bus - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Special Teams Push Lancers to 4-3 Win Over Des Moines - Omaha Lancers
- Fighting Saints to Host Roughriders Tonight in Dubuque - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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