Plymouth, MI – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (3-5-0-0, 6 pts) led twice in Friday's matchup against the USA NTDP U18 (2-3-0-0, 4 pts), but couldn't hold either lead in a 6-4 loss.
For just the third time this season, the Fighting Saints scored first in a game with Luke Brierley scoring a power-play goal at 8:08 of the first period. Brierley returned after a six-game absence and scored his first of the season, assisted by Arsienii Voroteliak and Kane Johnson.
Despite the quick start, the Saints couldn't hold the early lead. The U18s capitalized on a bounce off the end glass in Dubuque's zone as Brayden Willis scored to tie the game just 1:58 after Brierley's goal. In the final two minutes of the frame, Cannon Thibodeau redirected a USA shot past Luke Carrithers to give USA the lead into the second period.
To begin the second, the Saints had the response. Voroteliak scored his fourth of the year as the top line combined for Voroteliak's third goal in as many games. Melvin Ekman and Caden Dabrowski set up the goal on a quick-passing play in transition.
Just 31 seconds later, the Saints took the lead with David Blasiak's third goal of the season. Again, however, the U18s answered later in the period. Finn Sears scored on a rush up ice and then Thibodeau redirected another shot past Carrithers in the final seconds of the period for a power-play goal.
The Fighting Saints opened the third period with a one-goal deficit after the pair of USA goals. The U18s added to their lead just about seven minutes into the third period.
Down two in the final six minutes, the Saints cut the deficit to one with Jacoby Palmer's first goal of the season. Palmer's first-career goal was wired from the top of the circle and brought the Saints within a goal late.
A late USA power play iced the game as Freddie Schneider scored in transition to give USA a 6-4 lead with 1:55 left.
The Saints launched 32 shots on goal in the game, their second-straight game with 30-or-more shots.
Dubuque takes the ice against the U18s again on Saturday night to continue a three-game week against the NTDP.
