DUBUQUE, Ia. – In a back and forth affair that saw both teams lose leads, the Dubuque Fighting Saints (10-3-1) scored two goals in the final half of the third period and defeated the Tri-City Storm (4-8-2) 6-4 on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.
The Storm got goals from Chris Wilkie, Cutler Martin, Chase Berger and Christian Horn in defeat, while Kevin Kerr scored his first USHL point, picking up an assist.
Tri-City opened the scoring just 4:56 into the game on a perfectly executed passing play in front of the Dubuque net. Martin found Wilkie in front and the forward tapped in his third goal of the season to make it 1-0. Forward Ross Olsson had the second assist on the goal.
But the Fighting Saints responded, scoring three straight goals in the opening period to take a 3-1 lead at the end of one frame. Defenseman Dylan Chanter scored with an extra attacker on a delayed penalty call, while forwards Max McHugh and Robbie Darrar also tallied goals in the opening period for Dubuque.
The Storm came out with momentum in the second however, and scored two consecutive goals to tie up the game, 3-3.
Martin found the back of the net for the first time this season at 2:16 and made it a 3-2 game. Then it was Chase Berger who tied things up, scoring his fourth of the season in front from Kerr on an abbreviated power play.
Dubuque regained the lead less than three minutes after Berger tied it, taking advantage of an extended five-on-three advantage. Shane Eiserman scored the goal with assists from Dylan Gambrell and Seamus Malone.
The Saints had a 4-3 lead heading into the third, but Tri-City tied things up once again on a power play goal by Christian Horn. It was Horn’s second tally of the year, as he took a pass from forward Joel L’Esperance and beat former Storm goaltender Christian Frey to make it 4-4.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the game, the Saints took advantage of a miscommunication in the Tri-City end and the puck wound up in the back of the net. Andrew Gaus was credited with the unassisted goal and Dubuque had the lead for good.
A final tally from Jason Ford sealed the win for the Fighting Saints, who are undefeated (7-0-0) in front of their home fans in Dubuque.
Tri-City will continue on to Sioux Falls, where they will face the Stampede on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series with the Lancers at the Viaero Event Center.
Notes: The Storm scratched forward Joey DiBenedetto and defensemen Sean Lang and Jalen Schulz. Forward Drew Mayer was also scratched, serving a five-game suspension.…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Cutler Martin, Ross Olsson) 4:53
Dubuque – Dylan Chanter (extra attacker) (Blake Hillman, Eric Robinson) 8:36
Dubuque – Max McHugh (Brett Boeing, Phil Boje) 12:12
Dubuque – Robby Darrar (power play) (Jarrid Privitera, Dylan Gambrell) 15:16
2nd Period
Tri-City – Cutler Martin (unassisted) 2:16
Tri-City – Chase Berger (power play) (Kevin Kerr) 11:28
Dubuque – Shane Eiserman (power play) (Dylan Gambrell, Seamus Malone) 14:05
3rd Period
Tri-City – Christian Horn (power play) (Joel L’Esperance) 3:51
Dubuque – Andrew Gaus (unassisted) 11:48
Dubuque – Jason Ford (Robby Darrar, Eric Robinson) 14:23
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Holding), 2 min, 13:21
Dubuque – Seamus Malone – (Interference), 2 min, 17:38
2nd Period
Tri-City – Cutler Martin – (Fighting), 5 min, 5:40
Dubuque – Shane Eiserman – (Fighting), 5 min, 5:40
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Tripping), 2 min, 6:26
Tri-City – Christian Horn – (Tripping), 2 min, 9:11
Dubuque – Robby Darrar – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 9:44
Dubuque – Robby Darrar – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 9:44
Dubuque – Max McHugh – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 13:02
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 13:02
Tri-City – Garrett Cecere – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 13:02
Tri-City – Garrett Cecere – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:02
Tri-City – Nick Hutchison – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:31
3rd Period
Dubuque – Eric Robinson – (Hooking), 2 min, 2:25
Tri-City – Ross Olsson – (Charging), 2 min, 6:21
Tri-City – Ross Olsson – (High Sticking), 2 min, 16:10
Dubuque – Phil Boje – (Roughing), 2 min, 16:10
Power Play
Tri-City – 2/3
Dubuque – 2/6
Shots
Tri-City: 7, 13, 4 = Total: 24
Dubuque: 15, 16, 10 = Total: 41
Saves
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 35/41
Dubuque – Christian Frey – 20/24