USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Saints Weather the Storm, Edge Lumberjacks

Published on March 2, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. - It took two separate scares from the Muskegon Lumberjacks, as well as 48 saves from netminder James Durham, to thwart their surge, as the Dubuque Fighting Saints held on for a 5-4 win over the Jacks on Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena.

Adam Tisdale netted the eventual game-winning goal in dire circumstances. In the midst of a tie game and following a penalty taken by Jordan Wishman, Tisdale and Scott Corbett forced a steal and created a 2-on-1 break. A give and go between the two of them ended up in the back of the net behind Zach Borgiel to give the Saints the 5-4 win, and the lead for good.

Durham did his part in the Fighting Saints net, with 48 saves on 52 bids on net. He only allowed one goal on the 19 shots that were fired his way in the third period with the Jacks trailing for most of it. It was the first time the Fighting Saints had allowed more than 50 shots, but it was a victory nonetheless.

The Fighting Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead to begin the night by the 11:20 mark of the first period. Matias Maccelli converted on a pinpoint homerun pass from Aidan Fulp at the 7:59 mark of the opening period. That goal came at the end of a 4-on-4, and it led to a power play, which concluded with a 2-0 lead.

Jacob Semik whipped a shot from the point on a one-time look from Quinn Preston through Borgiel to give the Saints a 2-0 lead, one of two power play goals on the night.

Logan Pietila added to the scoring party with a power play tally as Muskegon's rash of penalties came back to bite them. Tyce Thompson spotted Pietila on the back post at 5-on-3 opportunity and capped off a good start for the visitors.

Muskegon did not quit. Two goals in one minute and 24 seconds got the Jacks believing. Monte Graham tipped a Marc Del Gaizo shot from the point to get on the board, and Mikael Hakkarainen picked up his first of the night on a feed from Matej Pekar to get within one to end the period.

Hakkarainen and Jake Hale traded goals in the second period, with Hakkarainen's tying the game at 3:40. But it was Hale's goal that got the Saints in front. Alex Steeves spun a pass rinkwide to Jordan Wishman, and Wishman found Hale streaking down the right wing and made the shot to give the Saints a 4-3 lead.

Vincent de Mey scored his fourth goal in his career against Dubuque in his eighth game, and tied the game once again. Muskegon looked to threaten, but Tisdale put the game away with his shorthanded tally at 15:09. Durham and crew stonewalled the Jacks the rest of the way and picked up the win.

12 of the last 13 games have been decided by one goal for the Fighting Saints, and 27 games have been overall. The Fighting Saints will look to close out the weekend with Muskegon on a positive note in a Saturday matchup at 6:15 p.m. Catch all of the action on Dubuque's Super Hits 106.1 FM, or on the USHL's streaming video provider, HockeyTV.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2018


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