West Des Moines, IA – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (9-7-1-0, 19 pts) battled for a 3-1 win on the road over the Des Moines Buccaneers (9-7-0-1, 19 pts) on Friday, led by 25 saves from Luke Carrithers.

Carrithers helped Dubuque keep a 2-1 lead throughout the third period, making all 12 saves in the final frame of his fifth-straight win. Included in those 12 saves was a nearly five-minute penalty kill in which Carrithers made multiple saves, while multiple Saints defenders blocked shots as well.

The Saints led the entire third period after Caden Dabrowski and Olle Därth set up Joey Kotzian's first USHL goal with 1:05 left in the second period.

Dubuque opened the scoring for just the sixth time in 17 games this season when Dabrowski scored with 1:26 remaining in the first period. Därth and Lincoln Krizizke assisted in transition with Krizizke extending an assist streak to four games.

The lead did not last long, however, as Des Moines' Eli Bimmerle converted on a breakaway at 1:27 of the second period and beat Carrithers for the only time in the game. 

Following Saints' penalty kill late in the third period, the Buccaneers pulled their goaltender Jon Kavcic in the final minutes. David Thomasson scored an empty-netter from center ice with 1:26 to play, assisted by Melvin Ekman and Carrithers.

Overall, the Saints outshot the Bucs 27-25 in the win and Dubuque won its second-straight game. The Saints have points in seven of their last eight games, with six wins in that stretch.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in Dubuque to complete the Dupaco Cowbell Cup weekend.