Second Straight Shutout Gives Saints 4-0 Win Friday
February 1, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - Connor Girard earned his second straight shutout kicking aside 26 shots as the Fighting Saints beat the Indiana Ice 4-0 Friday from the Pan Am Plaza in front of 1,248 fans. Joe Manno scored twice, and Seamus Malone had three points as the Fighting Saints earned a fourth straight win and improved to 4-0-1 on a seven game roadtrip. Dubuque earned its 30th win of the season improving to 30-6-3.
Girard, coming off being named the USHL's Reebok Goaltender of the Week, was perfect between the pipes, including stopping two point blank opportunities late. Girard stopped Alex Talcott with four seconds remaining in regulation to preserve the shutout. Girard has not allowed a goal in 143:25 of play, dating back to last Saturday's game at Team USA U-17. He improved his record to 14-3-2 on the season with the win tonight.
For the fourth straight game, the Fighting Saints opened the scoring as Joe Manno scored his fifth goal of the season at 11:41 of the first period. Keegan Ford dumped the puck off the glass from his own zone to spring Mike Szmatula along the left wing. Szmatula left the puck for Seamus Malone who posted up along the half-boards and fired a slapshot that was tipped in by Manno on the right side doorstep.
Dubuque rattled off two goals to start the second period to break the game open. Frankie DiChiara scored his 17th goal of the season, accepting a John Stevens pass that hit a skate, and firing a shot off the post that beat Ice goaltender Dalton Izyk at 1:07 of the second. Not a minute later, Manno scored his second goal breaking down the right wing. He accepted a pass from Malone, and fired a shot over the glove of Izyk at 1:54 to make it 3-0 Dubuque. Szmatula also assisted on the tally, which was Manno's 6th of the season. The Ice outshot the Fighting Saints 18-10 in the second period, but Girard kept the puck out, and Dubuque led 3-0 going into the final 20 minutes.
Dubuque added insurance late, scoring at 18:48 of the third. It appeared Szmatula tipped a Kyle McKenzie wrist shot from the right point to make it 4-0. However after the game, word from the locker room was that the goal would be awarded to McKenzie as it hit an Indiana player. Malone added an assist for his third point of the game. All four of Dubuque's goals were even strength as they went 0-for-3 on the powerplay and held Indiana to 0-for-3 on the man-advantage as well. The Ice outshot the Fighting Saints 26-25 on the evening.
The two teams play once again tomorrow to complete the two game set. The game will be played at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The arena seats 18,165, and is the largest facility the Fighting Saints will play in this season. Puck drop is slated for 6:05 p.m. and the game can be heard on Dubuque's Super Hits 106.1 FM and www.superhits106.com.
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