USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Weekend Primer: Saints Battle Black Hawks for Two Straight at Mystique Ice Center

Published on January 16, 2020 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


The Dubuque Fighting Saints will look to right the ship against a familiar opponent as they take on the Waterloo Black Hawks for the third and fourth time this month. Dubuque and Waterloo have played four times this season, with each team taking two games and the road team winning all four thus far. The series has been completely different in Dubuque vs in Waterloo. In Dubuque, the two Black Hawks wins have been 3-2 victories, decided late in the third period. In Waterloo, the Saints have outscored the Black Hawks by a combined 15-3 in the two games. Get set for the weekend right here:

-Defense has reigned supreme during the series in Dubuque, with two nail bitters that have been decided in the final half of the third period. The Saints have been able to skate past the Black Hawks on the road, in the Mystique Ice Center the Hawks have had the smallest of edges.

-Dubuque has lost two in a row and three of four in January. However, the Saints have only lost to five teams this season. Of their nine losses, two have come to Waterloo, two to Chicago, two to Team USA, two to Fargo and one to Cedar Rapids. Dubuque only has one loss to a team not currently occupying a top two spot in either conference.

-Friday will be the second game of the week for the Black Hawks. The dropped their first contest, on Tuesday, to the Tri-City Storm by a score of 4-3. Despite it being a three-game week for the Hawks, the two-day break between games, coupled with the light travel, shouldn't impact their legs too much.

-In both games in Dubuque this season, Wyatt Schingoethe has been the hero for Waterloo. He scored the game winner in the first game between the two on a shorthanded penalty shot with under two minutes left in regulation. Schingoethe scored the game winner last time the two played in Dubuque on a power play goal with under nine minutes to play.

-Every time Dubuque and Waterloo have played this season, top netminders have been on display. Gabriel Carriere has started three of four games against Dubuque and has played all but nine minutes in the season series. Logan Stein, statistically the top goalie in the league, started once vs. the Saints and was chased from net nine minutes in to the first period.

-On the other side, Erik Portillo returned to Dubuque in top form. Portillo, despite not winning once over the weekend, was spectacular in between the pipes. He ranks top five in wins, goals against and save percentage.

-The difference in team defense between Waterloo and Dubuque is miniscule. Dubuque ranks first in the USHL with 2.44 goals allowed per game, while Waterloo ranks second at 2.5 goals per game.

-Both teams excel on special teams, again another reason why they both rank towards the top of the league standings. Waterloo is sixth on the power play and second on the penalty kill. Dubuque is second on the power play and fifth on the PK. Dubuque has killed off 16 straight power plays, including 12 against the league's top unit in Chicago.

-On the flip side, the Saints have scored a power play goal in three of the last four games as they continue to roll a man up.

-Puck drop for both games will be at 7:05. The games have major implications in the Dupaco Cowbell Cup Standings as well, with Waterloo currently four points ahead of the Saints.

Check out the Dubuque Fighting Saints Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2020


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central