Dubuque, IA – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (3-4-0-0, 6 pts) dropped Saturday's contest 2-0 to the Youngstown Phantoms (1-5-0-0, 2 pts) as the teams split their weekend series.

After a penalty called against the Saints on the first shift of the game on Saturday, the Phantoms capitalized with a power-play goal just 1:49 into the game by Oliver Raimovaara. Despite 33 shots the rest of the way, the Saints could not muster a goal against goaltender Owen Lepak.

The Saints peppered Lepak with 24 of those 33 shots over the final 40 minutes of the game, but never beat the Youngstown netminder. Dubuque's pressure included five power-play chances in the contest, but the Saints could not convert.

The shutout was the first against the Saints since Oct. 2024 in a 5-0 loss to Omaha in Dubuque. The Saints were not shutout for the entirety of the 2025-26 season, but a shutout loss on Saturday handed them their first blanking of the 2026-27 season.

The Saints allowed just 19 shots on goal in the game as Luke Carrithers made 17 saves. The Phantoms first goal came on the first shot of the game before Youngstown added to the lead in the third period.

Dubuque returns to action on Friday when the Saints visit the U18s to begin a three-game weekend in Plymouth against the USA NTDP.