USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Sioux Falls Outlasts Saints in 80s-Style Track Meet

Published on February 23, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints found themselves down 3-0, and 4-1, and 6-5, but found a way to stage three improbable comebacks to pull to a 6-6 tie. That, however, would not last, in the team's 25th one-goal game, and 13th overtime game, as the Saints dropped a 7-6 decision to the Sioux Falls Stampede in overtime on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

Nolan Walker ended the game in overtime at the 1:17 mark of the extra session after a giveaway by the Saints' defense behind the net, as the Stampede competed in their 14th overtime game and picked up the victory on the road.

It was quite a journey to get there in the first place, and for the Saints to pick up a standings point.

The Saints ceded goals on the first three shots on goal of the game within the game's first six minutes. Kevin Conley buried the first one 30 seconds in, Kirill Panyukov a minute and 15 seconds later, and then Reid Stefanson at 6:43. That was the end of the night for goaltender James Durham, who was pulled in favor of Weaver, and it was that shakeup that got the Fighting Saints rolling.

Before the end of the first period, the Fighting Saints trimmed Sioux Falls' lead to two twice over. First, it was Tyce Thompson from his knees after a missed opportunity as a backhander eluded Mikhail Berdin. That began the goal avalanche for the Fighting Saints. It took a goal against from Colin Swoyer at 19:24 to wake the Fighting Saints' offense up and put them into overdrive.

Newly minted captain Josh Maniscalco, with three seconds left in the period, capped off the first period with the Fighting Saints believing. A centering pass from Quinn Preston found Alex Steeves, whose wrister found Maniscalco's stick, and the deflection ended the first period with the home team trailing by two goals.

Three consecutive goals put the Fighting Saints in the lead. The power play produced a goal at the 4:16 mark, as Jacob Semik rifled a shot from the blue line that got through Berdin. Seven minutes later, more. Dalton Hunter snapped a goal drought with a goal of his own, unassisted. Then, it was Thompson again at the 15:04 mark on an exceptional centering pass from Adam Tisdale in his return from injury.

That goal that gave Dubuque the lead eventually led to the end of the night for Berdin in favor of Jaxson Stauber, who played the rest of the way. Sioux Falls immediately responded to that tally by tying it again, this time on a power play of their own, and Artem Ivanyuzhenkov.

Sioux Falls and Dubuque traded tallies early in the third period, as Walker picked up his first of the night from Panyukov at 2:12, but it was a goal with some controversy behind it from Tisdale on a deflected shot by Jordan Wishman that tied the game at 7:43. That, in turn, sent the game to overtime, a late power play notwithstanding, giving both teams a point in the standings.

It was Sioux Falls that got the extra point, but getting the point in overtime was an arduous journey, and one worth taking. The team will take on the Stampede tomorrow for Mascot Mania, sponsored by Victory Ford. For tickets, call the box office at 563.583.6880, or go to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2018


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