West Des Moines, IA — Marcus Brännman. That is all.

The Fighting Saints first year goaltender stole the show on Saturday night as he and the Saints suffocated the Des Moines Buccaneers in a 2-0 shutout victory.

It was a slow start offensively for both teams at the RecPlex. The Saints had a pair of power play chances in the opening period, but failed to capitalize. With both goaltenders, Brännman and Des Moines Max Lundgren playing strong in the first period, you could just tell it was going to be a low scoring night.

It took 34 minutes and 51 seconds for the scoreless tie to be broken. After Ryan St. Louis was stopped by Lundgren on a breakaway, Mikey Burchill came flying in late to bury the rebound and give the Fighting Saints the first lead of the night. Lundren had made 19 straight saves before surrendering the goal to Burchill.

Burchill, who was already coming off a strong performance in Chicago a weekend ago, added the insurance marker 33 seconds into the third period. St. Louis poke checked a puck away from Des Moines Davis Borozinskis at center ice to spring a two-on-one with Burchill. St. Louis got the defender to leave his feet and then dropped a perfect saucer pass right on the tape of Burchill who one-touched it past the glove of Lundgren. Burchill finished the night with both goals for the Saints while St. Louis picked up the primary assist on both goals.

Brännman made 35 saves in total on the night, but perhaps his best of the evening, came with just under 10 minutes remaining in the third period. With the Buccaneers starting to press, Des Moines Jak Vaarwerk beat Trevor Taulien to the outside, then cut across the face of the Saints goaltender. Brännman extended his left leg out to stop the best chance of the night for Des Moines.

Brännman made 12 saves in the third period, 14 in the second, and nine in the opening frame. It was his second consecutive win and first USHL shutout. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play.

Up Next

Coming off back to back wins, the Fighting Saints travel to Michigan for a pair of games this weekend. On Friday, Dubuque will square off with Team USA. Then, on Saturday, the Saints duel with Muskegon. Both games can be watched on FloHockey or heard on the radio home of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Eagle 102.3 fm.

The Saints return home on Friday, November 4th to take on the Madison Capitols in their home opener. Tickets are available online.