Fighting Saints Top Lumberjacks 7-6 in Overtime
Published on April 14, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Max Gardiner contributed four assists and Gerard Hanson scored two goals as the Fighting Saints came out on top of the Muskegon Lumberjacks in a see-saw battle 7-6 in overtime at the Mystique Community Ice Center on Saturday night. The win closed out the regular season for Dubuque, who will open the playoffs at home on Monday night against Team USA.
The Fighting Saints grabbed the lead just over two minutes into the first period, with TJ Moor redirecting a Max Gardiner feed at the goal line to send the puck to the top shelf and put Dubuque up 1-0. Kyle McKenzie also assisted on the goal. Around six minutes later, a shot by Tyler Heinonen from the left circle beat Dubuque emergency back up goaltender Austin Willenborg and tied the game at one.
A rebound chance on a Muskegon powerplay was tapped in by the Lumberjacks' Mason Jobst sixteen minutes into the period, giving the Lumberjacks the 2-1 lead. With just 90 seconds to go in the frame, Dubuque's Zemgus Girgensons made a highlight reel deke in front of the net, finishing with a backhanded flourish to tie the game once again for the Fighting Saints. Gardiner and Moor picked up assists on the goal. Off of the ensuing faceoff, however, Heinonen scored again, putting the Lumberjacks back in the lead 3-2 as the game headed to the second period.
Gerard Hanson opened the second period with a beautiful move in front of the net, receiving the feed from Girgensons and Matt Caito to score and tie the game once again for Dubuque. Minutes later, Gardiner sent a puck from the half wall to Moor in the slot. Moor fed it to Tyler Lundey, who scored from close range to give the Fighting Saints the lead. Minutes later, Eliot Grauer worked a puck through traffic and across the goal line to build the Fighting Saints lead to two goals. Gardiner assisted on the goal to give him his fourth helper of the night. Muskegon would rally back at the end of the frame, however, with Matt DeBlouw and Heinonen scoring to tie the game by the second intermission. Heinonen's goal was his third of the night.
The Lumberjacks got on the board first in the third period, with Ryan Bullock hammering home a shot from the slot on the powerplay to give Muskegon the 6-5 lead. In the final minute, however, Hanson, assisted by Mike Matheson, tapped home a rebound to send the game to overtime. In the second minute of the overtime period, Jono Davis sent the puck to Girgensons at the half boards, who cycled it to Matheson along the blue line. Matheson sent a drive to the back of the net to give the Fighting Saints the 7-6 win.
The Fighting Saints will open the playoffs on Monday at home against Team USA. The two teams will also play on Tuesday, and Wednesday, if necessary. If the Fighting Saints advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they will open that series in Indiana against the Ice on Friday.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2012
- Tri-City Ends Regular Season in 3-2 Shootout Win - Tri-City Storm
- Fighting Saints Top Lumberjacks 7-6 in Overtime - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Fans Cheer Grand Finale - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Heinonen's Hat Trick Not Enough in Final Game - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede Close out Season with Shootout Loss to Tri-City - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Jonzzon, Phantoms Wrap up Regular Season with 4-3 Shootout Win Overfirst-Place Green Bay - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lancers Close Regular Season with 5-2 Win Over Sioux City - Omaha Lancers
- American Trust and Fighting Saints Draw $5,000 Winner - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Fighting Saints to Close out Regular Season Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team Defeats Czech Republic, 5-0, in 2012 IIHF World U18 Championship - U.S. National Team
- USHL Clark Cup First Round Western Conference Playoffs Set - USHL
- Waterloo's Three Goals in Third Beat Storm 3-1 - Tri-City Storm
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