Pregame Primer: Saints Take on Gamblers Sunday in Green Bay
Published on October 21, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
The Dubuque Fighting Saints will be back on the road today, a feeling they are very familiar with during this first month of the 2018-19 season. However, it isn't an uncomfortable feeling for Dubuque by any means. The Fighting Saints will look to stretch their road winning streak to five games in a row, and will look to start a season 5-0 on the road for the first time since the team returned to Dubuque. To do so, the team will have to get past the Green Bay Gamblers who took them down in game one this season.
-Since the first matchup between the two teams, which Green Bay won 3-2, Dubuque has proved to be the better team record wise. The Fighting Saints are 4-1-1-1 on the year while the Green Bay Gamblers are 3-5. Two of three losses have come after 60 minutes of play, meaning the team has still gained points in both games.
-The Fighting Saints have been nothing short of superb on the road this season. The team is 4-0 and have played three true road games. Their other "road" game was at the USHL Fall Classic. Dubuque has outscored their opponents 21-9 in the four games away from home.
-As good as the Fighting Saints have been all season long, they can be even better. Matias Maccelli, James Sanchez and Willie Knierim seem to have figured things out and are starting to produce serious points. Sanchez has five points in the last two games, Maccelli has goals in three straight games and Knierim has a three game point streak.
-The Gamblers, like the Fighting Saints, haven't played too much at home. In fact, Sunday's contest will mark just the third time that Green Bay has played at home this season. In their home opener, Green Bay suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Sioux City Musketeers.
-The Gamblers are led offensively by Paul Maust who has four goals and three assists. Defenseman Nick Leitner also has seven points, all of which are assists. In net, Jake Begley and Evan Fear have split the eight games evenly.
-The Gamblers are solid on both sides of the special teams conversation. On the power play, they operate at 20.5% while on the PK they are at 85.7%. On the flip side, Dubuque is similarly as good with a 21.7% PP and a 83.3% PK.
-The Fighting Saints have continued to pepper the goalie with shots and more and more are finding the back of the net. Dubuque is averaging four goals a game and over 30 shots a game.
-Outside of the Waterloo Blackhawks and the Muskegon Lumberjacks, the only two teams without a regulation loss, the Fighting Saints have the longest point streak in the USHL heading in to Sunday's action.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2018
- RECAP: Lancers Edge Storm in OT Thriller, 3-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Rally Late But Fall in Overtime to Omaha - Tri-City Storm
- Gamblers Win on Sunday - Green Bay Gamblers
- Fear Stops 43 as Green Bay Beats Dubuque 1-0 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Preview: Storm Host Omaha in Final Game of Weekend - Tri-City Storm
- Pregame Primer: Saints Take on Gamblers Sunday in Green Bay - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Sioux City Falter on Home Ice - Sioux City Musketeers
- Flying Aces Sweep Weekend Series against Team USA - Central Illinois Flying Aces
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
