USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Makitalo's OT Tally Ends Thriller in Saints Win

January 9, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - Petter Mî=A4kitalo had one option when Gordie Green gave him the puck in front of the Green Bay net in overtime. Score. His overtime goal at the 5:35 mark of the extra session sent the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and their fans, home happy in a 3-2 win over the Gamblers on Saturday night.

The Swede's goal came off of a clean faceoff win after the game had transitioned to 3-on-3 action. Keegan Ford set up Mî=A4kitalo in the slot, whose shot was denied. Green laid out and while falling down on the rebound, set the first star of the night up with a delicious dish for the tap-in.

The game had shaped up to be a goaltender duel between Gamblers goaltender Kevin Reich and Fighting Saints goalie Hunter Miska. On a night where Miska's mask was the giveaway item of the night, the Minnesota native came up large with several key stops and key moments. His best was a sprawling stop on Nick Poehling with the Saints up 2-1 at the time.

Reich made some ten-bell stops of his own, with his best on a breakaway against former teammate Brett Boeing in overtime.

Scoreless through one period of play, it took until the waning moments of the second period for the Gamblers to strike first. Captain Sam Saliba knocked home a Nick Poehling cross-ice pass through Miska to put the visitors up 1-0.

The third period ratcheted up once the Fighting Saints tied it. Dallas Gerads poked home a point shot by Joey Keane to knot it up at one, just six minutes into the final frame of regulation.

Evan Smith pounced on a rebound of a two-on-one chance with Ford to put the Saints on top by one at 2-1. The Saints captain shot for Reich's far pad, and with the younger Smith twin unchecked, he buried the puck home for his tenth goal of the season.

Jack Poehling tied it up immediately after the Fighting Saints killed off a Willie Knierim major penalty at the 14:33 mark, assisted by brother Nick with a centering pass and a roof shot to the top shelf.

Shots on goal ended with the Fighting Saints posting 44, including eight alone in the extra session. Green Bay only got one chance away in overtime, and 27 in the game overall.

Neither team could generate anything on the power play, with both teams unable to score on two chances. Green Bay's road penalty kill rose from the 87.5% they rode into the game with.

The Fighting Saints will travel to Youngstown, Ohio to take on the Phantoms next Friday and Saturday at 6:05 CST. Join all of the action on Dubuque's Super Hits 106.1 FM, or on the USHL's streaming video provider, FASTHockey.

Check out the Dubuque Fighting Saints Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2016


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