Mchugh's Goal Gives Saints Third Straight Victory
January 17, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
URBANDALE, IA- Max McHugh scored early in the third period to push the Dubuque Fighting Saints to their third straight win Friday night in Des Moines. Dubuque beat the Buccaneers on the road for the second straight Friday, topping Des Moines 3-2 in front of 2,528 at the Buccaneer Arena. The Fighting Saints outshot Des Moines 45-30 in the victory to improve to 20-10-1 on the season. The Fighting Saints have now won four of their last five games.
Coming into Friday's game, Karson Kuhlman had notched goals in his last two games and had scored four points in two games against the Buccaneers. His hot hand continued late in the game's opening frame as he scored his team leading 13th goal of the season on the powerplay. Alexx Privitera and Robby Darrar assisted on the goal that came at 17:39. Kuhlman snapped a shot from the right wing past Des Moines goaltender Billy Christopoulos who couldn't find the puck through a screen, to make it 1-0 Dubuque.
In his first game back in the lineup since Thanksgiving, Willem Nong-Lambert returned from an injury in strong fashion, notching his fourth goal of the season on the powerplay only 52 seconds into period two to tie the game for Des Moines. Tanner Karty made a beautiful back-door pass to Nong-Lambert on the right wing, and he fired a one-timer past Dubuque netminder Ben Johansson to make it 1-1.
The Fighting Saints enjoyed a brief lead in period two as Seamus Malone put Dubuque up 2-1 at 7:58 of period two. Malone walked into the Des Moines zone and took the puck behind the Des Moines goal. Looking for a teammate out front, Malone put the puck towards the goal. It bounced off Chistopoulos' pad and between his legs, rolling into the net to give Dubuque the lead. Robby Darrar and the Dubuque goaltender Johansson assisted.
Four minutes later, Des Moines battled back. Karty scored on a 2-on-1, beating Johansson glove side from Dany Elser. Jordan Klimek defended the middle of the ice, but Karty snapped a shot past the Dubuque goaltender to tie the game 2-2 at 11:43.
Dubuque opened the third period with a response. A point shot from Josh Elmes bounced loose to the corner. With Christopoulos down on the ice, Jarrid Privitera wrapped the puck behind the net to McHugh in the slot. He fired home his ninth goal of the season past the fallen netminder only 38 seconds into the third period to make it 3-2.
Both goaltenders faced a heavy workload Friday night, and Christopoulos kept his team in the game, but Johansson made the final saves with Des Moines attempting to tie it late. The Dubuque goaltender saved his best stop for last, kicking out a blue line drive with seconds remaining to give Dubuque the win.
Johansson is now 3-0-0 and stopped 28 shots in the win. Christopoulos stopped 42 in the loss. Dubuque was 1-for-6 on the powerplay while Des Moines was 1-for-3 Friday.
Dubuque travels to Tri-City tomorrow for a 7:05 p.m. game with the Storm. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m. and the game can be heard on Super Hits 106.1 FM. The Fighting Saints return home on Friday, January 24 to host Cedar Rapids for Vegas Night presented by Mystique Casino. Tickets are available to that game by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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