DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (37-12-3-4, 81 pts) clawed back from multiple deficits to force overtime, but fell 5-4 in a shootout on Friday night to the USA NTDP U18s (15-8-0-1, 31 pts).

Facing their second deficit of the night, the Fighting Saints went to their fifth power play of the game midway through the third. With two goals already, Noah Powell picked up a puck and ripped it home for his 38th goal of the season. The goal broke the Saints single-season record for goals in a season set by Mike Szmatula in 2012-13. It capped Powell's third hat trick of the season and tied the game with 9:50 remaining in regulation.

The game stayed tied through regulation and through a late Saints' penalty that carried over into the extra frame. The shootout was scoreless after two rounds before USA scored in the third and the Saints could not convert on their final chance.

Dubuque fell behind 2-0 in the contest after one period, despite outshooting the U18s 26 to 11 in the opening frame. Early on in the second, Juraj Pekarcik's eighth goal brought Dubuque within one before USA extended the lead back to two less than a minute later.

With a two-goal deficit, Powell then took over in the middle frame. Powell scored his 36th and 37th goals to tie the game in the second period and send the Saints into the third level at three.

Beckett Hendrickson nabbed a pair of assists for his ninth point in 10 games as a Fighting Saint. Erik Påhlsson logged a point for the 15th time in the last 16 games with an assist in the contest, while Fisher Scott, Joona Väisänen and Seamus Powell also added helpers.

Kevin Reidler made 25 saves in the defeat, but stopped a handful of prime chances from USA's top scorers. Dubuque ended the night perfect in two penalty kills and one-for-five on the power play.

The teams meet again on Saturday night in Dubuque for the third and final time this season. Each of the first two games went past regulation.