Dubuque, IA – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (2-2-0-0, 4 pts) host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (5-0-0-0, 10 pts) on Saturday in their first home game of the season at ImOn Arena.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Defend Dubuque
The Fighting Saints take the ice at ImOn Arena for the first time this season on Saturday, a building in which the Saints have 60 wins over the past three seasons.
Over those three seasons, the Saints have a .674 win percentage at ImOn Arena. The Fighting Saints begin a three-game homestand with Saturday's game against the RoughRiders.
2. Dubuque Deflection
Travis Lefere logged his team-leading sixth point of the season in Friday's loss, scoring a deflection goal in the third period.
Lefere has two goals and four assists through four games for Dubuque to begin his first season with the Fighting Saints. The forward had 15 points in 56 games for Waterloo last season.
3. Helping Hand
Rookie defenseman Nikolai Zhukov logged his first USHL point in Waterloo on Friday, assisting on Lefere's third-period tally.
The Minnesota native's plus-two rating is tied for the highest among all Dubuque defensemen so far this season.
4. Dubuque Deficits
In the last two games, the Saints have failed to hold a lead at any point in two losses. On Friday in Waterloo, Dubuque trailed 2-0 before its first goal and never leveled the game. Last week in Cedar Rapids, the Saints allowed the first three goals of the contest.
Over the first two games of the season, both wins for Dubuque, the Fighting Saints trailed for a total of 4:54. In the last two losses, the Saints have trailed for 93:50.
5. Rapid Rush
Cedar Rapids is off to a torrid start to the regular season, winning its first five games. The Riders have outscored opponents 22-6 over five games and goaltender Joseph Skidmore has logged two shutouts.
Offensively, the RoughRiders have two of the top three point producers in the USHL. Nathan Chorlton is tied for the league lead with 11 points and has three three-point games for Cedar Rapids. Henry Lechner is second with 10 points and has six goals to tie for the league lead after two goals in Friday's 5-0 win over Chicago.
Saturday's game begins at 7:05 p.m. CT at ImOn Arena and tickets can be purchased here. Fans should plan to be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. for Opening Night Ceremonies. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
