Dubuque, IA — On Friday Night, the Dubuque Fighting Saints played beyond regulation for the second consecutive game for the first time since April 22nd and 23rd of this year. However, unlike last Saturday's 6-5 shootout win over the Youngstown Phantoms, the Fighting Saints couldn't find the clutch goal in the skills competition to extend Friday nights game against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
After a "shaky" start to the first period on Friday that saw the Muskegon take a 1-0 lead on a Jake Richard power play goal, the Fighting Saints needed to settle their game down and regain their composure.
"I thought minutes 15 to five were a little of skaky here and there," said head coach Kirk MacDonald. "But I thought we got some momentum back in the final five minutes and started to manage the puck better."
That moment came after the Saints were able to find an equalizer from Jake Sondreal 16:04 into the opening frame. For Sondreal, who has seen his ice time and opportunity increase over the last several games, it was his first USHL goal.
"It was awesome," Sondreal said of the emotions of his first USHL goal. "We forced a turnover on the blue line and Nils [Juntorp] hit me with a nice pass on a breakaway. I picked my spot and hit it."
Sondreal did his best to stay humble, but he did more than just hit his spot. The rookie absolutely scorched a wrist shot off the cross bar and past Muskegon netminder Conor Callaghan.
Sondreal continued his strong performance all night long and was a catalyst in setting up Max Montes for a second period goal to give the Fighting Saints a 2-1 advantage. After an incredible hold to keep the puck in offensive zone at the blue line by Will Staring who kicked the puck out of mid air, Montes and Sondreal executed a perfect give-and-go. Montes' shot slipped by Callaghan to give the Saints their first lead of the night.
After another penalty by the Saints, Muskegon took advantage of the powerplay opportunity once more and knotted the game up at 2-2. Fighting Saints goaltender Marcus Brännman came out to play a puck, but a miscommunication forced Brännman to turn the puck over. Richard, stole it from him, and banked it off the Saints goalie and into the back of the net.
Neither side was able to break the seal in the third period, and to overtime the Fighting Saints went for the fourth time this season in just 12 games.
Dubuque had the best look of the overtime session, a penalty shot. Tyler Hotson tripped up Ryan St. Louis who sprung a breakaway 53 seconds into overtime. Unfortunately for the Fighting Saints, Callaghan played the penalty shot perfectly. St. Louis waited for Callaghan to bite on multiple stick-handling moves, but Callaghan never bit and St. Louis skated himself out of space.
The penalty shot was the Fighting Saints only shot on goal in the overtime. Brännman made five extra saves to push the game to a shootout for the second consecutive game for Dubuque.
This time, the skills competition was not too kind to the Saints. After stops on Richard and David Hymovitch, Brännman finally cracked on Muskegon's third shooter Matvei Gridin. The pressure turned over to the Saints. After Juntorp and Mikey Burchill failed to score, it was up to Montes to extend the shootout just like he had last Saturday. Montes missed the net on his shootout attempt and the Lumberjacks escaped Friday night with two points.
Brännman finished the night with an unofficial 25 saves on 27 shots on goal, while Callaghan ended with 23 saves for Muskegon. The Lumberjacks stayed alive in the game by going two-for-four on the powerplay. Dubuque didn't generate much of anything with their lone powerplay opportunity.
The Fighting Saints will look to avenge Friday night's loss on Saturday evening. Saturday night's game is Military Appreciation Night presented by Hirschbach Motor Lines and the Saints will be wearing a limited edition jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game.
