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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Third Period Comeback Gives Saints 4-2 Win at Madison

April 3, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


MADISON, WI- Less than a week after seeing a third period lead evaporate at the hands of the Madison Capitols, the Dubuque Fighting Saints flipped the scrip on Friday night. Training 2-0 entering the third period, Dubuque scored the game's final four goals to earn a 4-2 victory over the Madison Capitols at the Alliant Energy Center. With the victory and Muskegon's loss to Team USA U-17, Dubuque jumped back into 3rd Place in the Eastern Conference.

The Captiols entered the third period Friday with a 15-0-4 record when leading through two periods. Dubuque erased that mark with four straight goals, and Nathan Sucese provided the spark the club needed. With Dubuque shorthanded, the forward stole the puck and raced up ice on a breakaway. He slid the puck five-hole, beating Garrett Metcalf, to make the score 2-1 Madison at 5:34.

Dubuque would tie the game four minutes later. Mitchell Smith's wrist shot from the high slot beat Metcalf under the arm to make it 2-2 at 9:03. Hayden Shaw and Evan Smith assisted on the goal.

The game-winning goal would come at 13:59 from Hayden Shaw. The back-to-back CCM Defenseman of the Week came up big again. With Dubuque failing to convert on a power play, the Fighting Saints continued to press, and kept the puck in the offensive zone. The puck came back to Shaw at the left point and the defenseman wired a shot that beat Metcalf glove side to make it 3-2 Dubuque.

Jacob Benson would add an empty net goal at 18:06 to give Dubuque the comeback win.

Dubuque had many chances early, but it was the Capitols who jumped out front. After an opening period yielded no goals, the Capitols finally broke the scoreless deadlock 5:14 into the second period. After an offensive zone opportunity that Dubuque misconnected on, the Capitols brought the puck up ice. Eric Shaw skated the puck down the right wing and snapped a shot towards the Dubuque net. The shot deflected upwards and beat Fighting Saints goaltender Jacob Nehama from long range to make it 1-0 Capitols. The goal was Shaw's first USHL tally.

Madison would add to its lead five minutes later on a goal by Charlie Gerard via a broken play. A Haralds Egle pass towards the Dubuque goal deflected off the skate of Dubuque defenseman to Gerard on the right wing. With Nehama scrambling to cover the left side of the net, Gerard scored top corner to make it 2-0 Capitols at 10:40.

Dubuque's comeback helped put them one point ahead of Muskegon in the USHL'S Eastern Conference standings with three games left in the regular season. Dubuque outshot the Capitols 40-26 on the evening.

Dubuque is off for the remainder of the weekend, but returns to action Tuesday in Green Bay for a 7:05 p.m. game with the Gamblers. The Fighting Saints final home game of the regular season is next Friday, April 10. It's Fan Appreciation Night presented by American Trust as the Tri-City Storm visit Dubuque for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or by visiting DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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