Dubuque, IA – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (6-6-1-0, 13 pts) host the Waterloo Black Hawks (9-1-2-0, 20 pts) on Sunday to complete a Cowbell-Cup weekend.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Därth Delivers…Again
Fighting Saints forward Olle Därth scored for the third-straight game on Saturday, tying the game with 30 seconds left in the third period in Waterloo. The late goal to tie the game follows his game-winning overtime goal last Saturday against Sioux City. Därth has scored in four of the last five games for the Saints and leads the team with seven goals.
Därth's clutch goal came on the power play in Dubuque's only chance of the game. The forward has seven goals and seven assists for Dubuque with three goals and four assists coming on the man-advantage.
2. Pressure Packed
The Fighting Saints allowed 35 shots on Saturday, one below a season-high through 13 games. Goaltender Josh Banini made 32 saves in his first game with the team, stopping 31 of 33 in regulation to help the Saints earn a point.
Dubuque has allowed over 30 shots just four times this season, but two of those have come against Waterloo. The Hawks put 36 shots on net in their win on Oct. 2, scoring six times in the first meeting of the season.
3. Strong Start
Cruz Martin has points in three-straight games entering Sunday's matchup against Waterloo and has assisted twice through two games with the Saints.
After his first week of practice with the Fighting Saints, Martin saw time on the penalty kill in Saturday's game at Waterloo and played on a line with Därth and Joseph Covelluzzi. Martin logged an assist on Covelluzzi's goal in the second period on Saturday.
4. Defend Dubuque
The Fighting Saints return home where they have won three of their last four games this season. Last weekend, the Fighting Saints swept the Sioux City Musketeers to improve their home record to 3-2 overall this season.
Sunday will be the first of two meetings between the Saints and Black Hawks in Dubuque this season. Last season, the Saints won both home matchups against the Hawks and outscored Waterloo 9-2 in the pair of wins.
5. Hawk Hints
Waterloo has lost just once in regulation so far this season, led by the second-best goaltending tandem in the USHL. In two wins so far this weekend against Sioux City and Dubuque, the Black Hawks have allowed a total of 35 shots on goal.
Charlie Menard made 14 saves on 15 shots in the win on Friday over Sioux City before Sebastian Charvat stopped 18 of 20 in an overtime win over Dubuque on Saturday.
Sunday's game at ImOn Arena is set to begin at 5:05 p.m. CT and tickets are available here with a Skate with the Saints to follow postgame. The game is available on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
