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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Svedebäck Stops 24 as Saints Skate by Bucs

April 1, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The magic number was one, and the Dubuque Fighting Saints got two- points, that is- to clinch a playoff spot once again. For the eleventh consecutive season, the Fighting Saints will compete for the Clark Cup. They assured themselves of a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers on Thursday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

The game was originally scheduled in Des Moines on Friday, but due to a mechanical issue at Buccaneer Arena, the game was moved to Dubuque.

Philip Svedebäck backstopped the Fighting Saints to the win with 24 saves. His best came early in the third period on the penalty kill. The Swede made the initial save on a point shot, and then scrambled to get into position to deny Lubomir Kupco, and then Connor Pelc, in back-to-back, bang-bang stops. The win was his fifth in his last seven appearances.

Two goals in the third period tipped the scales. Tied at one, the Saints earned the tiebreaker early on. Davis Burnside, the former Buccaneer, could not capitalize on a breakaway chance, but recovered the puck and created the game-winning play. He evaded a defender by circling high in the zone, and threaded the needle to Nikita Borodayenko, who snapped the puck into a wide-open goal, to give the Saints a 2-1 lead.

Burnside added the helper on the insurance tally. Jackson Hallum sprinted ahead of everyone and deposited the puck into the empty net with just under two minutes to play in regulation to salt it away.

Both teams played to a 1-1 tie after the first period in a largely defensive period that ended with shots at seven apiece.

Dubuque opened the scoring at the 6:08 mark of the first period. Zane Demsey lifted a shot from the left point, and Kenny Connors sailed through the slot and deflected the puck past Des Moines goaltender Remington Keopple. It was Connors' 23rd goal of the season.

Des Moines tied the game late in the first period. The Bucs' power play struck as Scout Truman's shot deflected off of a body in front and past Svedebäck for his only blemish of the night.

Dubuque will be idle on Friday, and then return to action Saturday night to take on the Waterloo Black Hawks at Young Arena. The game will begin at 6:05 p.m.

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