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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Reich, Saints End Hawks' Win Streak with 3-2 Overtime Win

February 8, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints went from heartbreak to jubilation in a matter of minutes Saturday night. The Waterloo Black Hawks tied the game with only 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, but Karson Kuhlman scored the game-winning goal on the powerplay with 9.1 seconds left in overtime to give Dubuque a 3-2 win at the Mystique Community Ice Center. The victory ended Waterloo's win streak at 16 games and gave the Fighting Saints a league-best third victory over the Black Hawks this season. Dubuque Goaltender Kevin Reich was the game's first star making 44 saves and wowing the crowd with several highlight reel saves.

With Dubuque leading 2-1 from the midway point of the second period, the Fighting Saints defense and Reich turned aside Waterloo time and time again in the third period. With Waterloo's Mark Friedman in the box with under a minute to play, it looked like Dubuque would be able to earn the victory. Waterloo rushed goaltender Cal Petersen to the bench to even the men on the ice at five aside, and with just seconds remaining, the Black Hawks flipped a shot at the pads of Reich. The goaltender kicked aside the shot, but Blake Winiecki knocked the rebound into the net with only 4.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 2-2 and stun the near-capacity crowd.

With the game headed to overtime, the Fighting Saints were awarded another powerplay after Tim Lappin steamrolled Dubuque goaltender Kevin Reich and was called for charging. With only 9.1 seconds in overtime, Alexx Privitera found Boje at the right point. The puck was bouncing too much for Boje to one-time the shot, so he chipped it low to Kuhlman who was wide open on the left wing and made no-mistake, scoring his 16th goal of the season to give Dubuque a 3-2 win.

Saturday's game provided thrills from start to finish. The 2,993 fans that filled the Mystique Community Ice Center had barley gotten to their seats when the Fighting Saints opened the scoring. A Waterloo clearing attempt came to the left point to Boje. He unleashed a heavy slapshot that deflected off Petersen's shoulder and into the net to make it 1-0 Fighting Saints only 34 seconds into the game. The goal was Boje's 8th goal of the year and his first since December 13.

Dubuque's Reich was the story in the first period, turning aside 11 Waterloo shots, including a point-blank chance from Winiecki from the low-slot shortly following the Boje goal. On the evening, Reich finished with a Dubuque season-high 44 saves to improve to 5-0-0 since joining Dubuque.

Reich's thievery continued in the second period with an eye-popping stick save on Waterloo's Lappin. With the Dubuque goaltender scrambling, he swung the paddle of his goal stick towards an open right side of the net. Lappin's shot hit the blade of Reich's stick to keep the score 1-0.

Waterloo would eventually tie the game on a goal by Liam Pecararo in the second period. Pecararo walked in on Reich and fanned on his initial shot, but he collected the bouncing loose puck and scooped a shot over the Fighting Saints' goaltender to make it 1-1 at 6:45.

The Fighting Saints would respond with a goal from Shane Eiserman with 4:02 to play in the second period to regain the lead. Jarrid Privitera worked the puck towards the goal and fired a shot that slid past Petersen. It sat loose in the crease before Eiserman came from behind the net and knocked it across the goal line for his 10th goal of the season.

Dubuque was outshot 46-36 in the victory. The Fighting Saints improved to 26-11-1 on the season while Waterloo moves to 32-5-2. Saturday was the Black Hawks final regular season meeting with the Fighting Saints at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

The Fighting Saints are back on the ice tomorrow afternoon in Green Bay for an Eastern Conference matchup with the Gamblers. Puck drop is slated for 3:05 p.m. and can be heard on Super Hits 106.1 FM.

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