URBANDALE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (13-3-1-2, 29 pts) dropped a tight contest 3-2 to the Des Moines Buccaneers (8-7-4-0, 20 pts) on the road Friday night.

Dubuque scored early in the game to take a 1-0 lead with Nick Romeo's third of the season after the Saints forced a turnover on the forecheck. After the tying goal later in the first by Des Moines, the teams entered the second even at one.

In the second, Joona Väisänen rocketed a feed from Erik Påhlsson past Des Moines goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir to put Dubuque ahead into the third. The assist for Påhlsson extended his point-streak to 11 games, the longest in the USHL this season. It also extended his league-leading point total to 27.

It was the third period that led to the loss for the Saints. Dubuque allowed a goal 8:52 into the frame after a neutral-zone turnover led Des Moines on a rush up the ice. A few minutes later, a Saints' outlet pass deflected off the linesman and sprung the Bucs on an odd-man rush. Des Moines capitalized to take a 3-2 lead with 4:10 left in regulation.

Despite a late power-play chance, the Saints couldn't find the tying goal. Dubuque was 0-4 on the power play on Friday in just the third game this season the Saints failed to score a power-play goal.

Thatcher Bernstein made 20 saves in his fifth start of the year for Dubuque.

Both teams meet again on Saturday night in Dubuque. Puck-drop at ImOn Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CST.