Ford's Overtime Heroics Push Saints Past Phantoms

October 17, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa - A power play in overtime was all it took. In one swift motion, Keegan Ford ripped a shot from the top of the right circle, and made the Mystique Community Ice Center rock. That one goal sent the fans home happy after a 3-2 win over the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday night.

Ford took a feed from Michael O'Leary, who had just exited the penalty box following his tripping penalty to begin overtime. His shot, which hit the top shelf, earned the extra point for the Fighting Saints.

Patrick Holway blocked three shots while on the aforementioned kill, and while diving, Mitchell Smith cleared the zone, and while chasing the puck all the way down the ice, drew the tripping penalty on Ryan Bednard, the Phantoms' starting netminder, which proved costly.

It proved to be his only mistake of the night in a stellar 43-save performance.

From start to finish, it was an offensive onslaught for the Fighting Saints. They outshot the Phantoms 16-6 in the first period, 12-1 in the second period, and 16-7 in the third period. Two goals by the Phantoms, including a shorthanded goal by Vas Kolias, and an even strength goal by Yushiroh Hirano tied the game after the Saints led 2-0.

Petter Mäkitalo padded what was a 1-0 lead for the Saints off of a slick feed from Willie Knierim, as he sent the cross-crease dish into the net for his first USHL goal. That made it 2-0, and seemingly out of reach midway through the third period.

Smith got Dubuque on the board on the power play with his first goal of the season. He took a pass from goaltender Hunter Miska, and broke in through several defenders, snapping a shot through Bednard to put them up 1-0. That, while up two men, and with Nathan Sucese streaking down the wing as a decoy.

Miska bailed out his teammates midway through the first period. His denial of Cameron Morrison with the glove capped off a tremendous flurry of opportunities in front of the Dubuque net. He stopped 15 of 17 shots in Friday's victory.

The weekend continues with a clash in Cedar Rapids. The RoughRiders, after suffering their first defeat of the night Friday night, will host the Fighting Saints for a 7:05 start from The Stable. Join the action starting at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show on the home of the Fighting Saints, Super Hits 106.1 FM.

United States Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2015

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• Stars Beat Buccaneers 3-1 in Des Moines - Lincoln Stars
• Capitols Rally in Third, Complete Sweep in Shootout Fashion - Madison Capitols
• Gamblers Sneak Past Steel 2-1 Friday - Chicago Steel
• Phantoms Fall to Dubuque in Overtime - Youngstown Phantoms
• Hinostroza Joins Defending Champs - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Ford's Overtime Heroics Push Saints Past Phantoms - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Gamblers Beat Steel on the Road - Green Bay Gamblers
• Lambdin Scores, Return Spoiled by Fargo - Bloomington Thunder
• Stars Erase Storm, 2-0, on Color out Cancer Night - Tri-City Storm

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