Saints Host Lumberjacks in Game 2 of Conference Final
Published on April 29, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - The No. 1 seed Dubuque Fighting Saints host the No. 2 seed Muskegon Lumberjacks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final with a 1-0 series lead on Monday night.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Jumping Jubenvill
After squandering a 3-1 lead in the third period of Game 1, the Fighting Saints regrouped and started overtime with a few strong chances. Following Muskegon's only chance of overtime, the Saints rushed forward with Noah Powell and Jake Sondreal.
Powell fed Sondreal into the zone with Jayden Jubenvill trailing the play. Jubenvill took a pass from Sondreal to the front of the net and gave the Saints a 1-0 series lead with his second goal of the playoffs. Jubenvill has four points in five playoff games for Dubuque this postseason.
2. Merrill Mania
Dubuque has leaned on its fourth line throughout the postseason so far as a lock-down line defensively. However, the rotating combination of Teddy Merrill, Josh Giuliani, Andrew King, Colin Frank and Nick Romeo has provided an offensive spark as well.
Merrill and Giuliani both logged assists in the Conference Semifinals leading into Sunday's Game 1. In the second period, King found Merrill who chipped a puck forward to himself and then roofed his first goal of the playoffs. The goal gave the Saints a 3-1 lead as the line continued to make an impact in the postseason.
3. Saints Saves
After winning the USHL Goaltender of the Conference Semifinals award, Kevin Reidler made 27 saves on 30 shots in Game 1 of the Conference Finals. Despite allowing as many goals as he had the entire previous series, Reidler still made a handful of key saves for Dubuque in Game 1.
Early in overtime, Reidler stopped two chances by Matvei Gridin in close. The first was on a deflection and the second came on the ensuing rebound. Reidler kept his leg to the post and kept the regular season's leading point-scorer out of the net.
4. Cornforth Converts
Gavin Cornforth opened the scoring for the Saints in Game 1 of the Conference Final with a quick snap shot early in the second period. Cornforth entered the postseason in a productive stretch at the end of the regular season.
The second-year Saint logged a point in five of the last six regular season games. In the series with Youngstown, Conforth added an assist and has played crucial minutes in the playoffs. Cornforth netted his first-career postseason goal in his 10th playoff game for the Saints with his Game 1 marker.
5. Saw Stories
For the second-straight game, the Lumberjacks erased a 3-1 deficit to open the third period and force overtime. The Jacks did the same in Game 5 of the Conference Semifinals against Green Bay before winning in the second overtime frame.
A lead is crucial against Muskegon as the Lumberjacks were impeccable at holding leads in the regular season. The Jacks finished the regular season with 28 games in which they led after two periods. Muskegon won all 28 of those contests, but finished 3-20-1-1 when trailing after two periods.
Monday's game begins at 7:05 p.m. CDT at ImOn Arena and tickets can be purchased here. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2024
- Comeback Falls Short in Dubuque; 4-3 Final Sees Saints Take 2-0 Lead of ECF - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- DeForest Yards Announced and Bob Suter's Legacy20 Arena Middleton Rebranded - Madison Capitols
- Peters Commits to Penn State - Lincoln Stars
- Saints Host Lumberjacks in Game 2 of Conference Final - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Jacks Fall 4-3 in Overtime in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Jubenvill Lifts Saints to OT Win in Game 1 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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