Plymouth, MI – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (4-6-0-0, 8 pts) came back from a 3-1 deficit to take down the USA NTDP U17s (1-3-0-0, 2 pts) in a 6-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.
The Saints stormed back from down 3-1 early in the second period and took their first lead since Friday at 4:15 of the third period when Gavin Lock scored his second goal of the game. Lock logged a career-high three points in the win, scoring twice in his hometown. Lock's first goal brought Dubuque level early in the game after USA started the scoring just 5:15 in.
In the second, the U17s took a 3-1 lead at 5:18 of the frame and extended their lead to two. The Saints had the response just three minutes later, however. A power-play goal from Max Lind brought Dubuque back within one. It was the sixth power-play goal of the weekend for the Fighting Saints, who finished the weekend at 50.0% on 12 chances.
Olle Därth assisted on each of the first two goals for Dubuque on his way to a three assist night. Därth logged seven points in the last two games of the weekend for Dubuque.
After Lind's tally, the Fighting Saints continued to pressure the USA zone. In the second period, the Saints put 17 pucks on goal and David Blasiak capitalized on a deflection with just 2:52 remaining in the period. Luke Brierley and Kris Richards assisted after Blasiak fed them the puck at the blue line with a faceoff win.
After Lock's second gave the Saints the lead for the first time since Friday, Joseph Covelluzzi and Trevor Theuer added to the lead in the final 10 minutes. Lock and Därth assisted Covelluzzi for a rebound goal, before Blasiak set up Theuer's coast-to-coast tally. Theuer cashed in on a net drive by chipping a puck past Colby Arnold's glove for his first of the season.
The Saints won the special teams battle on Sunday, scoring the lone power-play goal of the game. Dubuque's penalty kill stopped all four USA power-play attempts, keeping a unit that had seven goals on 13 chances in three games off the board.
Luke Carrithers made 18 saves in his third victory for the Fighting Saints. Dubuque returns home next weekend for a series against the Sioux City Musketeers at ImOn Arena.
