Ice Survive Late Dubuque Goal to Claim 5-4 Win Friday
Published on March 28, 2014 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa-A pair of goals from Sam Kurker, including the game-winning tally in the third period, helped the Indiana Ice to a 5-4 victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center. The Ice held off a late comeback attempt from Dubuque to preserve a victory and maintain a two-point lead in the race for the USHL's Anderson Cup.
Despite the eventual loss, it was Dubuque who jumped to a lead with a quick start Friday. The Fighting Saints opened the game with a 9-1 shot advantage and Blake Hillman struck only 3:53 into the game. After a powerplay expired for Dubuque, John Baiocco moved the puck up ice to Robby Darrar. The Fighting Saints forward fed it across to Hillman who had joined the rush from the backend. He snapped a wristshot that beat his former teammate, and Indiana goaltender Hayden Stewart blocker side to give Dubuque a 1-0 lead.
The Ice would respond with two quick goals to take a lead in the opening period. Sam Kurker scored on the powerplay at the 12:54 mark and Joe Sullivan scored just 15 seconds later to make it 2-1 Indiana. Kurker's goal came on a rebound off the pads of Reich to tie the game, and before the goal could be announced, Sullivan deflected in a Ryan Mantha shot from the right point to make it 2-1 Indiana.
In the second period, Dubuque quickly evened the score with a highlight reel goal. Shane Eiserman rushed the puck up ice. He dished a pass across to Dylan Gambrell on the right wing. Without any hesitation, Gambrell fed the back backdoor to Max McHugh who redirected the puck past Stewart's blocker to tie the game, 2-2, only 49 seconds into the period. The goal was McHugh's fourth strike in the last three games, and 21st tally of the year.
Indiana would again regain the lead at 14:40 of the second period on a powerplay goal from Dwyer Tschantz. Jacob Pritchard's shot bounced from the slot off the body of Reich. The puck sat loose and was scooped into the net by the big Indiana forward to make it 3-2.
The back-and-forth game continued as Dubuque struck once again early in the game's final period. Jacob Benson struck only 44 seconds in the third period on the powerplay. Seamus Malone moved the puck behind the net to Karson Kuhlman. He threw a pass to the front of the net and Benson redirected a shot past Stewart to make it 3-3.
The Ice would again respond with back-to-back goals. At the 2:21 mark, Matt Roy fired a harmless looking shot from the left point towards the net. Reich attempted to stop the puck with his stick, but it somehow eluded the Dubuque goaltender and snuck into the net to make 4-3 Indiana.
Four minutes later, Kurker scored his second goal of the game. Michael Preston's shot from the point was stopped by Reich, but the rebound sat loose in the crease and Kurker shoveled his fifth goal of the season to make it 5-3.
Dubuque made things interesting with a late goal with only 56 seconds remaining from captain Alexx Privitera. With Reich on the bench, Indiana's Stewart was screened, and Privitera took advantage, beating the goaltender over the blocker to make it 5-4. The Fighting Saints pulled Reich again and Dubuque maintained possession and control, but were unable to tie the game before the final horn.
Dubuque outshot Indiana 31-22 in the loss. The Fighting Saints were 1-for-4 on the powerplay while Indiana was 2-for-4. Stewart, who was 6-6-1 in his time with Dubuque, earned the win in goal for Indiana and improved to 13-0-0 with the Ice.
With Cedar Rapids win over Youngstown, Dubuque trails Cedar Rapids by three points in the USHL's Eastern Conference standings.
The two teams rematch tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at the Mystique Community Ice Center. Saturday's game is Fan Appreciation Night presented by American Trust. $5,000 will be awarded during the second intermission of the evening's game as part of "The Winning Edge" contest. All entries in the contest over the past month will be entered into the grand prize drawing, with no limit on the number of entries per person. Fans still have time to enter to win by signing up at American Trust locations, via American Trust's Facebook page and at the games this weekend game prior to the second intermission drawing on Saturday. Tickets are available to the game by calling 563.583.6880.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2014
- Record Night at Young Arena - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Berger Scores Twice as Storm Top Force - Tri-City Storm
- Ice win 5-4 - Indiana Ice
- Ice Survive Late Dubuque Goal to Claim 5-4 Win Friday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lancers Fall To Lumberjacks In Shootout, 3-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Connor Scores Two More, But Riders Take Close Contest - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Come up Just Short against Musketeers in Front of Record Setting Crowd at the Arena - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Muskegon Fends off Omaha with Shootout Winner from Matej Paulovic - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- USHL Approves Addition to Youngstown Phantoms Ownership Group - USHL
- NTDP Set to Host Baseball Night in Ann Arbor on April 4 - U.S. National Team
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