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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Fighting Saints Prepare for Western Finals

April 27, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Fighting Saints stormed through their first Clark Cup Playoff series, sweeping Fargo in three games to set up a rendezvous in the Western Conference Finals with the Sioux Falls Stampede. The Stampede have stormed through the playoffs as well, taking two out of three in the first round to oust Sioux City and then sweeping the second-seeded Omaha Lancers in round two.

Team defense and the sterling play of Matt Morris in net allowed the Fighting Saints to secure their three victories against the Force and advance in the postseason. Over those three games, Morris compiled a miniscule goals-against-average of 0.65 and a staggering save percentage of .974. Of goaltenders who have played in as many playoff games as Morris and whose teams are still alive in the playoffs, Brady Hjelle has the next lowest goals-against-average, checking in at 2.50 - nearly two goals per game higher than Morris' average.

The special teams efforts of the Fighting Saints significantly contributed to the team's success in the sweep of the Force. Though the Fighting Saints were shorthanded sixteen times over the course of their three playoff games, Dubuque did not surrender a single power play goal to the opposition. Their penalty kill success was a continuation of regular season accomplishment for the Saints, who killed off nearly 90% of their shorthanded opportunities throughout the year - the second-highest mark in the league. The other aspect of the special teams was also in good form for Dubuque in the sweep of Fargo. The Fighting Saints' powerplay cashed in on nearly 19% of its opportunities - good for the fourth best mark out of the twelve teams that qualified for the playoffs.

The Fighting Saints' next opponent, the Sioux Falls Stampede, will come into the Key City on Friday night riding a wave of confidence. After taking the full three games to dispatch the Sioux City Musketeers in the first round, the Stampede swept Omaha, winning two on the Lancers' own ice to advance to the Conference Finals. The Stampede lead playoff teams in goals scored per game, having found the back of the net an average of four and a half times each contest. Sioux Falls forward Kyle Rau leads all USHL scorers in postseason action, having scored six goals and tallied four assists over the course of six games. Their defense has been solid as well, ranking in the top third of all teams in the postseason.

As the Western Conference Finals get started on Friday at 7 PM, the playoff atmosphere will heat up in Dubuque. The first 2,000 fans into the Mystique Community Ice Center will receive free rally towels for game one of the series. The playoff spirit will continue in the second game of the series on Saturday night as Fighting Saints fans will aim to "White Out" the arena.

Custom white playoff t-shirts are available for purchase at the Fighting Saints offices and games bearing the playoff slogan of "Our House, Our Cup - We Want the Clark Back!", along with the names and numbers of each member of the Fighting Saints' roster. The series will continue with game three in Sioux Falls on Friday, May 6th at 7:05 PM. Game four, if necessary, will be played on the following Sunday at 6:05 PM in Sioux Falls. Should the series advance to a fifth and deciding game, it will take place back in Dubuque on Tuesday, May 10th , at 7 PM.

Fans interested in tickets for either of this weekend's games can call the Fighting Saints at (563) 583-6880, visit www.dubuquefightingsaints.com, or stop by the Mystique Community Ice Center Box Office between 10 AM and 6 PM, Tuesday through Friday. All games will be broadcast on Dubuque's Super Hits 106 and streamed on superhits106.com, with pregame coverage starting a half hour before puck drop.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2011


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