Game 22: Dubuque at Ice

After a 6-1 victory last night, the Ice are back in action tonight against the Dubuque Fighting Saints, completing a seven-game homestand. After tonight, the Ice will hit the road before returning home Dec. 30-31 to face the Youngstown Phantoms.

Tonight's matchup is a big one, as the Ice can move to within one point of the second-place Fighting Saints. With the current USHL playoff system, the top two teams get byes, and the third and fourth-place teams host the entire best-of-3 first-round series. With the four teams behind first-place Green Bay in the Eastern Conference being closely bunched, it's going to be key.

Both teams have a lot of talent, and the extra-sized rink at the Pepsi Coliseum can give teams a bit more room to work. Even though the Ice and Fighting Saints are both in the Eastern Conference, this weekend marks Dubuque's only trip to Indianapolis. The Ice will travel to Dubuque on Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.

The Ice are the USHL's second-highest scoring team, and despite giving up six goals last night to the Ice in a 6-1 Indiana victory, Dubuque is second to Green Bay in goals against.

The Ice sport the league's second (Daniil Tarasov, 28 points) and third (Jacob Fallon, 25 points)-leading scorers. Dubuque's top scorers each have 20 points.

Tonight's game
Dubuque Fighting Saints (14-6-1)
at
Indiana Ice (12-7-2)
7:05 p.m., Pepsi Coliseum, Indianapolis, Ind. 


Broadcast: ushl.fasthockey.com

Season series: Ice lead 1-0
Dec. 9: Ice 6, Dubuque 1 (at Pepsi Coliseum): Jacob Fallon 3A, Christian Hilbrich 2G, Robbie Baillargeon, Daniil Tarasov, Ryan Cole G/A each. Jon Gillies 26sv (Ice); Teddy Doherty G (Dub)


Tale of the Tape
Ice (12-7-2, 4th USHL East)
Head coach: Kyle Wallack
GF: 77 (2nd). GA: 62 (8th)
PP: 31.8% (1st). PK: 86.9 % (4th) PIM: 395 (14th)
OT record: 2-1 SO record: 1-1
Home record: 6-5-1
Leading scorers: Daniil Tarasov (13-15-28), Jacob Fallon (8-17-25), Sean Kuraly (10-11-21), Robbie Baillargeon (8-9-17).
Leading +/-: Alex Barron (+14), Daniil Tarasov (+11), Ryan Obuchowski (+10)
Leading PIM: Woody Hudson (58), Daniil Tarasov (51), R.J. Boyd (45)
Leading goaltender: Jon Gillies (11-5-2, 2.53 GAA, .920sv%, 1 SHO), Dalton Izyk (1-2-0, 3.77 GAA, .878 sv%)
Last 5: 3-2-0. Last 10: 5-5-0
Last 5
12/9: vs. Dubuque (W 6-1)
12/4: vs. Green Bay (L 2-4)
12/3: vs. Green Bay (L 1-5)
12/2: vs. Sioux Falls (W 4-1)
11/26: vs. Fargo (W 5-3)

Fighting Saints (14-6-1, 2nd USHL East)
Head coach: Jim Montgomery
GF: 63 (t8th). GA: 52 (2nd)
PP: 18.5% (5th). PK: 89.8% (1st). PIM: 317 (4th)
OT record: 1-1 SO record: 2-0
Road record: 8-5-1
Leading scorers: Zemgus Girgensons (9-11-20), Shane Sooth (3-17-20), Tyler Lundey (7-7-14)
Leading +/-: Jake Downing (+11), Matthew Caito (+7)
Leading PIM: Mike Matheson (38), Michael Downing (34)
Leading goaltender: Collin LeMay (1-1-0, 1.62 GAA, .927sv%, 1 SHO); Matt Morris (3-2-0, 1.74 GAA, .923 sv%); Gabe Antoni (10-3-1, 2.62 GAA, .896sv%)
Last 5: 3-2-0. Last 10: 6-4-0

Ice next 5 games
12/16: at Chicago
12/17: at Chicago
12/18: at Muskegon
12/28: at Muskegon
12/30: vs. Youngstown