Malone's Five Points Helps Dubuque Clinch Playoff
March 27, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - For a fifth consecutive season, the Dubuque Fighting Saints are headed to the Clark Cup Playoffs. Seamus Malone scored five points, including his second consecutive hat trick, to lead the Fighting Saints to an 8-1 win over the Madison Capitols Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center. With the win, Dubuque secured a spot in the 2015 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs. Dubuque has now qualified for the post-season every year since the club's return to the USHL in 2010.
After notching his first USHL hat trick last Saturday against Cedar Rapids, Malone picked up right where he left off. The Dubuque forward collected three goals and two assists in the victory, notching a goal in each period. Malone started the scoring with his 21st goal of the year 3:24 into the game, jamming a cross-crease pass from Robby Jackson into the net from the slot.
Jackson, who scored six points last weekend, would play a large role as well, registering three points including a goal and two assists. He was one of five Fighting Saints to have multi-point games in the victory. In addition to Malone and Jackson, Nathan Sucese, Evan Smith and Hayden Shaw both scored two or more points.
Malone would start the scoring in the second period, striking at 6:50 of the middle frame. Sucese fed a pass to the forward streaking down the left wing. He cut towards the goal and beat Madison netminder Darren Smith short side to make it 2-0 Dubuque.
Shaw would add to Dubuque's lead, scoring on a shot from the left point at 12:02 of the second to up Dubuque's lead to 3-0 through 40 minutes.
In the third period, Dubuque would outscore the Capitols 5-1, with Malone finishing his second hat trick in as many games at 3:05 of the third period. Jacob Benson flipped a pass forward to Malone at the offensive zone blue line. The forward tracked the puck down and raced in on a breakaway. He maneuvered the puck to his backhand and scored five-hole for his third goal of the game and 23rd goal of the season.
Following a shorthanded goal from Madison's Freddy Gerard, Dubuque finished the game strong. Jackson scored at 9:07 on a rebound to make the score 5-1 Dubuque. Dubuque would then add back-to-back goals with Evan Smith scoring from twin brother Mitchell on a wrist shot from the left wing at 14:32. Just 23 seconds later, Malone setup Sucese for a backdoor tap-in on a perfectly executed two-on-one rush to up the score to 7-1. Evan Smith would score one final goal with under a minute remaining to make the final score 8-1.
The eight goals tie a high for Dubuque in a single game since the club's return to the USHL in 2010. Dubuque outshot the Capitols 42-31 in the victory. Dubuque had 10 players with points in Friday's game.
Dubuque's victory secured a playoff spot for the Fighting Saints in the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs, which begin April 14. With Waterloo and Green Bay appearing to likely miss the USHL's post-season, Dubuque will be the lone team in the USHL to make the playoffs every season since 2010-2011. "Pay As We Play" playoff tickets are on sale for the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs. Fans may secure their seats to every home game during the playoffs by signing up for the package.
Dubuque continues a three game weekend tomorrow. The Fighting Saints are hosting "Game of Thrones" Night presented by media partner Eagle 102, and the evening will be much more than a tribute to the HBO show that has ties to Dubuque. The Fighting Saints will honor a different throne- the porcelain throne- for an evening all about the toilet as the team looks to defeat their rival Cedar Rapids. Saturday's game will help a great cause with a toilet paper drive to assist local area shelters in need. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com. The game will be televised live on KCRG 9.2.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2015
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- Yon Scores Twice as Fargo Earns Win over Tri-City - Tri-City Storm
- Malone Leads Saints over Capitols - Madison Capitols
- 9,715 Fans Watch Stampede Top Bloomington 3-1 - Sioux Falls Stampede
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- Game Notes: vs Omaha - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede & Thunder Meet After 25 Week Hiatus - Bloomington Thunder
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