Fighting Saints Run Roughshod over Waterloo
November 5, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
WATERLOO , Iowa - Three goals in the first period, and a complete game in all phases led the way. The Dubuque Fighting Saints never let off the gas pedal, got strong goaltending from Philip Svedebäck, and went a perfect 7-for-7 on the penalty kill, culminating in a 5-1 romp of the Waterloo Black Hawks on Friday night at Young Arena. It was the Fighting Saints' third consecutive win.
Dubuque took advantage of an early miscue by the Black Hawks. John Waldron was flagged for tripping 53 seconds in, and 20 seconds later, the Fighting Saints struck. A broken play on zone entry found the stick of Connor Kurth. Halliday took the relay and tucked the puck to Samuel Sjölund who wired the puck past Jack Williams to open the scoring.
Just under two minutes later, the Saints struck again. Halliday tipped a Connor Kurth shot from the high slot into the back of the net to double the lead at 3:12. It took some time for the Saints' third goal to come, but Max Montes converted on a 2-on-1 break with Kenny Connors to give Dubuque a large lead they would never come close to relinquishing.
Svedebäck made his best start to date in his USHL career. He helped the penalty kill go perfect, and keep Waterloo off the board in a mid-first period push. He made 28 saves on the night, which was fourth-most in his career. The win was also his third in a row.
The defense was forced in a corner early in the third period. Zane Demsey and Sjölund were in the box for separate penalties, which gave Waterloo a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. But the penalty kill came through to clear the board.
Waterloo got its first and only goal on the night by Tucker Shedd on a rebound opportunity. However, the Fighting Saints quieted the room past the halfway point of the third period and sent the Waterloo faithful to the exits.
A shot block out high in the zone led to a breakaway for Stephen Halliday. His initial shot was stopped, but Kurth followed up on the rebound to chip the puck over Williams. It was the third game in a row that Kurth scored a goal, and his four-point effort extended his point streak to nine games.
Halliday put the game away with an empty net goal, as the Black Hawks rolled the dice late with the net empty and the score at 4-1.
The Fighting Saints' power play went 1-for-6 on the night. Waterloo outshot Dubuque 29-24 for the game.
Dubuque is back in action Saturday night against the Chicago Steel at 7:05 p.m.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2021
- Steel Down Green Bay 6-2 with Offensive Display - Chicago Steel
- Fighting Saints Run Roughshod over Waterloo - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks' November Starts Inauspiciously - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede's Winning Streak Snapped in Lincoln - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hutson Nets Shootout Winner, Lumberjacks Overcome Youngstown 2-1 in a Shootout - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Haden Kruse Added to Roster as Replacement Player - Tri-City Storm
- Gavin Brindley to Skate for Team USA in International Event - Tri-City Storm
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