Saints Fall in Game 1 of Conference Semifinals
April 20, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints fell 2-0 to the Youngstown Phantoms in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday night in Dubuque.
Despite five power-play chances in Game 1, the Fighting Saints could not beat Youngstown goaltender Aiden Wright on 28 shots in the opening game of the series. As the Saints' second power-play opportunity early in the second period came to a close, Youngstown swatted a puck to center.
Andrew Strathmann left the penalty box and received the pass on a breakaway with Seamus Powell closing in on him. Strathmann fended off Powell and chipped a shot past Kevin Reidler to open the scoring in Game 1 just 2:41 into the second.
The Fighting Saints had two more power plays throughout the second period, but could not find a way to capitalize.
Kevin Reidler stopped all 11 shots he faced in the first period and faced just 13 the rest of regulation. Just over eight minutes into the third, Youngstown won a faceoff in the Saints' end and Charlie Cerrato deflected a shot past Reidler to extend the lead to 2-0.
Just seconds later, the Saints fed James Reeder onto a breakaway in which he was hooked and knocked to the ice. Reeder was awarded a penalty shot, but could not convert the chance.
Despite a few more late chances and a power-play in the final two minutes with Reidler pulled, the Saints failed to beat Wright and dropped the opening game.
The Saints allowed just one power play for the Phantoms and killed it successfully in Game 1.
The teams meet for Game 2 on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. CDT in Dubuque at ImOn Arena.
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