Johnson's Power Play Goal Guarantees Weekend Sweep
February 21, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Dubuque Fighting Saints swept all three games over the weekend, rumbling back from a 2-1 third-period deficit, and securing a 4-2 win over the Bloomington Thunder on Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
A third period deficit went by the wayside after Nathan Sucese tied the game, slicing through the Bloomington defense with a pinpoint shot over the blocker of Logan Halladay. Petter Mäkitalo hit the veteran forward with a long stretch pass at the 11:55 mark of the third.
Casey Johnson followed that up with the game-winning goal, a blast from the right point, set up by captain Keegan Ford, late in the third period. Johnson powered home his eighth goal of the year, which now ranks fourth in the USHL among defensemen.
Mitchell Smith put the icing on the cake, even after the Fighting Saints took a late penalty. His goal into the empty net secured the win, even after frantic chaos in the defensive end in the final minute.
Bloomington had scored twice on the first three shots of the third period. First, league-leading defensive goal scorer Jeremy Davies took advantage of a shorthanded odd-man rush to score his 13th goal of the season. Alec Mehr followed that up at even strength a minute and 30 seconds later in similar fashion.
Plenty of penalties were called in this game, which was both teams' third game in as many nights. 19 different infractions were spotted, many of them against the Fighting Saints in the second period, leading to a lopsided 17-4 shots advantage for the Thunder in the second period, Hunter Miska, however, held the fort for the second straight night, stopping all 17.
In his 24th win of the season, he turned away 42 Bloomington shots on goal.
Mäkitalo started the scoring for the Fighting Saints towards the end of the first period. On the power play, Brett Boeing spotted him at the base of the left faceoff circle with a picturesque dish. The Swede snapped the shot through Halladay at the 18:12 mark of the first period.
The Thunder took the game's first 10 shots on goal, before being answered by an 11-2 Fighting Saints margin for the rest of the first period.
The Fighting Saints return home for two games full of family fun next weekend at the Mystique Community Ice Center. First, Kids Run the Rink Night, sponsored by ManorCare and Xtreme 107, starts at 7:35 p.m. when the Green Bay Gamblers come to town. On Saturday, Mascot Mania, sponsored by Victory Ford, comes to Dubuque at 7:00 p.m., as the Des Moines Buccaneers make their only trip to the Key City this season. For tickets, call 563.583.6880, or go online to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2016
- Special Teams Cost Thunder in Sunday Matinee - Bloomington Thunder
- Johnson's Power Play Goal Guarantees Weekend Sweep - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Fall to RoughRiders in Tight Finish - Youngstown Phantoms
- Carabelli Scores First Career Goal in Lumbrjacks Win - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Thunder Wrap up Weekend with Dubuque - Bloomington Thunder
- Pulkkinen Scores 2, Musketeers Fall to Lincoln - Sioux City Musketeers
- Wild Overtime Ends in Fighting Saints Shootout Win - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Knocked Off By Buccaneers Saturday - Chicago Steel
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