DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (5-1-1-1, 12 pts) suffered their first regulation loss on Saturday in a 4-0 defeat to the Fargo Force (6-0-0-0, 12 pts).

For the first time this season, the Saints failed to score four times in the shutout defeat. The Fighting Saints mustered a season-low 16 shots on goal on Saturday night. Fargo goaltender Hampton Slukynksy stopped all of them.

In the final minute of the second, Fargo was leading 1-0 when Leo Gruba launched a shot over Saints goaltender Kevin Reidler's net. It deflected off the glass, bounced back over the net, hit Reidler and bounced in to give Fargo a 2-0 lead into the third. The Force added two more in the third, one coming with the Saints' net empty.

The Saints league-leading power play never got a chance on Saturday night. It is the first game this season where the Saints did not score a power-play goal, but their power play is still tops in the league with a 43.3% rate. For the fourth-straight game, Dubuque's penalty kill was perfect with two successful chances.

Reidler made 27 saves on 30 shots in the loss. He has played in six of the eight Fighting Saints games so far this season.

Dubuque hits the road next weekend to face Omaha on Friday and Tri-City on Saturday.