Fighting Saints Let Lead Slip, Settle for Weekend Split
Published on March 3, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Much like the night before, the Dubuque Fighting Saints found themselves in the driver's seat with a first-period lead, this time by two. However, the Muskegon Lumberjacks scored three unanswered goals to take the lead, and would never relinquish it the rest of the way as the Jacks defeated the Saints 5-3 at L.C. Walker Arena on Saturday night.
The Jacks utilized a second period in which they outshot the Fighting Saints 15-4, and outscored them 3-0. It took ten minutes to turn the tide of the game, starting with a tally from Matej Pekar, set up by the dynamic line of Mikael Hakkarainen and Anthony Del Gaizo to cut the lead in half, and then a power play goal from Emilio Pettersen to tie the game.
With a chance to retake the lead midway through the second period on a Colby Bukes slashing minor penalty, the game turned. A turnover in the offensive zone led to a breakaway the other direction, and on the rebound of a missed opportunity, Jachym Kondelik followed up on the rebound and stashed the puck through Cole Weaver to give Muskegon the 3-2 lead at the 11:58 mark of the second.
While the Fighting Saints would tie the game thanks to Chayse Primeau's second goal of the game 36 seconds into the third period, Muskegon roared back with a goal of their own four minutes later to retake the lead. At that point, Muskegon added one more goal to seal it, thanks to a prayer from Marc Del Gaizo from 200 feet into the empty net.
The Fighting Saints started off with a bang to begin the night with the first two goals. Primeau began the night at the 16:44 mark following a failed power play opportunity. Quinn Preston and Alex Steeves stuck with it and fed Primeau in front for his first score of the night to give the Saints the first goal.
90 seconds later, the offense struck again. Jan Kern forced a Muskegon turnover in the neutral zone, and Viktor Bovbel charged ahead. His drop pass found Dalton Hunter, who snapped a high rising shot over the shoulder of Muskegon goaltender Keegan Karki to extend the lead to 2-0.
Weaver ended the night with a regulation loss, but made 27 saves in the losing effort. Karki denied 24 of 27 shots fired his way on Saturday.
The Saints go into overdrive this week, as they host the Green Bay Gamblers for Winning Wednesday on March 7, remain home to take on the Lincoln Stars on Friday, March 9, and head to Young Arena to take on Waterloo on Saturday, March 10. For tickets to the two home games, go to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2018
- Storm Blow Past Des Moines 5-2 - Tri-City Storm
- Steel Power Past Stampede 4-2 Saturday - Chicago Steel
- Four Unanswered for the Win - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Fall Late in Chicago - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Gamblers Fall to Team USA - Green Bay Gamblers
- Phantoms Earn Series Sweep with 2-1 Win - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stars Overtake RoughRiders in 5-1 Win - Lincoln Stars
- Fighting Saints Let Lead Slip, Settle for Weekend Split - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Young and the Restless - Madison Capitols
- Team USA out Plays Lancers, 7-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Preview: Storm Hit the Road for Battle with Buccaneers - Tri-City Storm
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