DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (8-1-1-1, 18 pts) skated past the Tri-City Storm (7-4-0-0, 14 pts) with a 7-3 win on Friday night.
Erik Påhlsson scored in the first minutes of both the second and third periods in the win to extend Dubuque leads each time. His first goal at 1:18 of the second put the Saints ahead 4-0, before his second goal put them up 5-2 early in the third. Påhlsson's 18 points after his three-point night are the most in the USHL this season.
Five Saints had multiple points in the win, including Juraj Pekarcik. The Slovakian forward tallied his second three-assist game in the last five contests, joining the Saints top line with Påhlsson and Gavin Cornforth.
James Reeder (1-1-2) and Jake Sondreal (1-1-2) joined Påhlsson with multiple points. Michael Barron logged a three-point night as well with a goal and two assists.
Kevin Reidler made 31 saves for the second-straight game against Tri-City to claim his fifth victory of the season.
Barron started a three-goal first for Dubuque, before Reeder and Cornforth scored to send the Saints to the locker room up three. Reeder's came on the power-play for the Saints' league-leading 17th power play goal.
The Fighting Saints chased Tri-City's starting goaltender Cameron Korpi with Påhlsson's first goal, sending the undefeated goaltender to the bench with seven saves on 11 shots.
Friday was the first game Tri-City lost in which Korpi started for the Storm.
The Fighting Saints are back in action on Saturday when they hit the road to take on the Waterloo Black Hawks. Puck-drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CST. Coverage begins at 5:45 on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
