Saints Drop Clark Cup Final Game 1 in Fargo
May 10, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
FARGO, ND - The Dubuque Fighting Saints dropped the opener of the Clark Cup Final 3-1 on Friday night to the Fargo Force.
Dubuque started the opening period of Game 1 with a few shots and chances, taking the first four shots of the game. Just 2:59 in, however, Leo Gruba used a Saint as a screen and beat Kevin Reidler with a wrister to open the scoring.
A few minutes later, Brandon Svoboda tipped a shot in front that beat Reidler to give Fargo a 2-0 lead before the 10-minute mark of the opening period. Reidler was perfect the rest of the night, making 28 of 30 saves overall.
Late in the second, the Saints hemmed Fargo in its own zone with Jake Sondreal's line keeping the puck alive. Noah Powell found Sondreal who passed through the slot and found Joona Väisänen waiting at the back-door circle. Väisänen fired a one-timer past Hampton Slukynsky with 1:35 left in the second to bring the Saints within a goal headed into the third.
Dubuque finished the night with just 23 shots, but fired 10 on net in the third period in a comeback-effort. The Saints had over two minutes of power-play time in the final seven minutes of the third period, including 41 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage, but could not beat Slukynsky in the final minutes.
With the goalie pulled late, the Saints pulled Reidler and kept pressure on in the Fargo zone. However, Fargo found a loose puck and Mac Swanson scored into the empty net to give Fargo the 3-1 lead.
Both teams finished the night scoreless on two power-play chances to open up the Clark Cup Final. The teams meet for Game 2 on Saturday night in Fargo with puck-drop scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT.
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United States Hockey League Stories from May 10, 2024
- Saints Fall in Game 1 of the Clark Cup Final - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Saints Drop Clark Cup Final Game 1 in Fargo - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Fargo Skates to 3-1 Win in Opening Game of 2024 Clark Cup Final - USHL
- Fargo's Mac Swanson Named 2023-24 USHL Player of the Year - USHL
- Fargo's Cary Eades Named 2023-24 USHL GM of the Year - USHL
- Fargo's Brett Skinner Named USHL Coach of the Year - USHL
- Saints Visit Force in Game 1 of the Clark Cup Final - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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