Saints win sixth straight game on home ice thanks to affiliate list forward's first period goal
January 23, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA- The Dubuque Fighting Saints success at the Mystique Community Ice Center continued Friday night. Colin Theisen's first USHL goal turned out to be the game-winning tally to help push the Dubuque Fighting Saints to a 4-1 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers in front of 2,906 fans. The win was Dubuque's sixth straight victory on home ice and improved the club to 21-9-3 on the season.
It didn't take long for the Fighting Saints to get the home crowd to its feet. Jacob Benson scored his 8th goal of the season on the power play to open the scoring only 3:01 into the game. Defenseman Keegan Ford worked the puck to the right wing half boards where Seamus Malone was parked. He fired a cross-ice pass to Benson. The forward one-timed the puck, and it hit Des Moines goaltender Ryland Pashovitz in the arm and rolled into the net to make it 1-0 Dubuque.
Dubuque's offensive pressure continued to mount in the game's opening period. Dubuque outshot Des Moines 16-4 in the first period, and doubled their lead on affiliate list forward Theisen's first USHL goal. Linemate Willie Knierim deflected a Des Moines pass and stole the puck from a defender. He looked to center the puck, and found Theisen open on the right wing. Theisen collected the pass and fired a sharp angle shot over Pashovitz's shoulder to make it 2-0 Dubuque at 15:16.
Des Moines came out with an inspired effort in period two, outshooting Dubuque 10-7, and cutting the lead to just a goal. Joe Widmar struck for the Buccaneers on the power play at 4:24 to make it 2-1 Dubuque. Des Moines defender Corey Schueneman fired a slap shot from the blue line that Dubuque's Jacob Nehama stopped, but Widmar batted the rebound in for the goal.
In the third period, Dubuque shut the Buccaneers down and got a critical insurance goal from forward Shane Kavanagh. The winger won a race up ice to a loose puck, cutting from the left wing across to the right side of the ice. He drew a defender and the goaltender out of position and struck for his 8th goal of the season at 16:26. J.D. Dudek had the lone assist on the goal.
Malone would add an empty net goal to secure the win for Dubuque. The Fighting Saints outshot Des Moines 37-18 on the evening.
Dubuque begins a three-game road trip tomorrow. The Fighting Saints visit the Chicago Steel at 7 p.m. Saturday night. Next weekend, Dubuque battles with Eastern Conference foe Muskegon at the L.C. Walker Arena in Michigan. Dubuque returns home on Saturday, February 7 versus rival Cedar Rapids.
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