DUBUQUE, Ia. – Alec Dillon’s 42 saves kept the Tri-City Storm (10-7-3) ahead in a scoreless third period for a 2-1 win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints (13-7-1) on Saturday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.
Storm forwards Matthew Freytag and Chris Wilkie each scored a power play goal, helping the top power play in the USHL to continue producing with the man-advantage.
Dubuque outshot Tri-City 43-24 in the game and had many grade A chances through the first two periods, but Dillon was seeing the puck well and was on top of his game.
The Fighting Saints scored early to take a 1-0 lead 3:15 into the opening period. Jacob Benson found the back of the net for his second of the year.
Tri-City tied things up late in the frame when Freytag scored his fifth goal of the season on the power play. Center Mason Appleton found the winger in the low slot and picked up the first assist, while forward Dan Labosky was credited with the second helper on the play.
Labosky was playing in his first game of the season for Tri-City, after leaving college and re-joining the team earlier in the week.
The teams combined for 54 minutes of penalties in the opening period, including a fight between Benson and Storm defenseman Jalen Schulz, as well as a misconduct to forward Cody Milan for checking from behind.
In the middle frame, Wilkie converted for his seventh power play goal of the season at 6:21 to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead. Overall, it was Wilkie’s 12th tally of the season which leads the team.
Assists on the goal were given to both Jake Wahlin and Bobby Nardella.
Both teams held each other off the scoreboard in the final period. After 33 penalty minutes in the opening frame, Tri-City had just one minor penalty in the remainder of the game, and limited Dubuque’s chances in the final minutes.
Tri-City picks up their tenth win of the year, and is in third place in the USHL’s Western Conference standings.
The Storm return to the Viaero Event Center on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in a matchup with the Lincoln Stars at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez and Wade Allison along with defenseman Gordi Myer…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Dubuque – Jacob Benson (Spenser Young, Mitchell Smith) 3:15
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag (power play) (Mason Appleton, Daniel Labosky) 16:10
2nd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Jake Wahlin, Bobby Nardella) 6:21
3rd Period
(no scoring)
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Interference), 2 min, 0:29
Dubuque – Jacob Benson – (Fighting) (Instigator), 2 min, 5:44
Dubuque – Jacob Benson – (Fighting), 5 min, 5:44
Dubuque – Jacob Benson – (Fighting) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 5:44
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Fighting), 5 min, 5:44
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Fighting) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 5:44
Tri-City – Cameron Spicer – (High Sticking), 2 min, 8:23
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 9:07
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 9:07
Dubuque – Brett Boeing – (Slashing), 2 min, 10:23
Dubuque – Brett Boeing – (Charging), 2 min, 14:56
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Kneeing), 2 min, 17:08
2nd Period
Dubuque – Andrew Kerr – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:57
Nolan Aibel – (High Sticking), 2 min, 11:00
3rd Period
Dubuque – Andrew Kerr – (Elbowing), 2 min, 3:19
Dubuque – Nate Sucese – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 10:46
Power Play
Tri-City – 2/6
Dubuque – 0/5
Shots
Tri-City: 6, 9, 9 = Total: 24
Dubuque: 20, 15, 8 = Total: 43
Saves
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 42/43
Dubuque – Jacob Nehama – 22/24