Preston Provides the Dagger as Saints Dim Stars
February 18, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
LINCOLN - Two overtimes and three one-goal games later, the Dubuque Fighting Saints battled their way to five out of a possible six points on the weekend. Quinn Preston's overtime goal just 12 seconds into the extra session ended the weekend on a positive note as the Saints topped the Lincoln Stars 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at the Ice Box.
Right off the bat, Preston evaded a defender and forced a stick to go flying. After pulling free, his initial shot was stopped, but from his backside, he ended the game, unassisted, in a flourish of scoring brilliance. It was Preston's 17th tally of the season.
The game was a seesaw battle from start to finish. Three consecutive Fighting Saints leads were answered by Lincoln Stars goals within minutes, eventually leading to the 12th time that the Saints have gone to overtime this season.
Dubuque looked to be in the driver's seat in the third period after Brendan Bushy's howitzer from the left circle bested Lincoln netminder Derek Schaedig to give the Saints the 3-2 lead. The Stars looked to have tied the game on an opportunity from Josiah Slavin, but the puck was ruled to be kicked in on the rebound while shorthanded.
Lincoln eventually did tie the game just moments later, as Casey Dornbach delivered for his second of the game on the power play at the 15:27 mark of the third, five minutes after Bushy's goal, to tie the game up at three all.
The game started on the right foot for the Fighting Saints, as a power play goal from former Lincoln Star Chayse Primeau got the scoring started, and Matias Maccelli, with just a half of a second remaining in the first period, gave the visitors the 2-1 lead after the first period. When notching the first goal, the Saints improved to 16-4-1 on the season.
Cole Weaver, who got the win in net for Dubuque, turned aside 28 opportunities fired his way. None were better than his solid stop at the end of the second period on Tristan Ashbrook, who was sent off on a two-on-one break with the game tied at two apiece in the closing minute.
With the victory, Dubuque pulls to within a single standings point of Team USA and Youngstown for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and will return home next weekend.
The Saints host the Sioux Falls Stampede on Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24 for two big promotional nights- Go Red For Women Night on Friday, sponsored by Dubuque Fire Equipment, and Mascot Mania, sponsored by Victory Ford on Saturday. For tickets, call the box office at 563.583.6880, or go to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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United States Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2018
- Carlson Wins 600th Game - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- The Horse Awakens - Madison Capitols
- Gamblers Take Care of Flying Aces on the Road - Green Bay Gamblers
- Preston Provides the Dagger as Saints Dim Stars - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Stars Pick up Point in 4-3 Overtime Loss - Lincoln Stars
- Del Gaizo Hits 50, De Mey Scores Twice, But Jacks Fall to Bucs - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Capitols Double up on Steel Saturday - Chicago Steel
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