Dubuque, IA – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (3-3-0-0, 6 pts) earned a 5-3 win over the Youngstown Phantoms (0-5-0-0, 0 pts) on Friday, led by Caden Dabrowski's four points in his return to the lineup.

Dabrowski missed the first five games of the season, but made an immediate impact in his return. The second-year forward assisted on each of the Saints' first three goals of the game and added an empty-netter late to seal the victory.

Youngstown started the scoring at 12:11 of the first period, but Dubuque responded quickly. Dabrowski danced past a couple of defenders and found Arsienii Voroteliak for a tying goal just 30 seconds later.

The Saints took their first lead about five minutes later when Dabrowski and Joe Wahlund set up Travis Lefere for a 5-on-3 power-play goal. Lefere scored his third goal of the season, recording points in all six games so far.

The Phantoms responded with a pair of goals in less than two minutes just past the halfway mark in regulation. Jesse Orlowsky scored a netfront goal at 9:28 before an Austin Hall power-play goal at 10:42. 

Dubuque responded again with Voroteliak's second of the game at 12:45. Dabrowski and Melvin Ekman assisted as Voroteliak redirected a pass by Dabrowski in for his third goal of the season.

Minutes later, Logan Anderson was assessed a major and game misconduct for boarding Lefere and Dubuque went back to the power play. Olle Därth recorded his second goal of the season in the final minute of the period to put the Saints in front 4-3. It was the only goal Dubuque scored on the major power play as the Saints scored twice in seven chances.

Därth logged the game-winner and Dubuque held on with Dabrowski's empty-netter with 1:17 to play. Dabrowski logged a career-high four points in the game.

Luke Carrithers made 30 saves in his second win of the season, including all 10 shots he faced in the third period. The Saints killed four of the five Youngstown power-plays in the game.

The teams meet again on Saturday in Dubuque to finish the weekend series.