Cannon Thibodeau scored twice, including a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period, and the U.S. National Under-18 Team beat the Dubuque Fighting Saints 6-4 in USHL play on Friday night at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. Nolan Fitzhenry had three assists, and Eli Winters made 28 saves before a crowd of 1,005.
How the goals came
Dubuque scored first on an L. Brierley power-play goal at 8:08 of the first period. Brayden Willis tied it at 10:06, from Gerry DiCunzolo and Fitzhenry, and Thibodeau put the NTDP ahead at 18:17, from Carson Scott and Freddie Schneider.
The Saints went back in front with two goals 31 seconds apart early in the second, from A. Voroteliak at 2:38 and D. Blasiak at 3:09. Finnegan Sears tied it at 9:41, assisted by Thibodeau and Jake Prunty, and Thibodeau scored on the power play with five seconds left in the period, from Ben Geiger and Sears, for a 4-3 lead.
DiCunzolo, who joined the program from the OHL’s Peterborough Petes this summer, scored his first NTDP goal at 6:56 of the third, from Fitzhenry and Willis. After J. Palmer pulled Dubuque within one at 14:22, Schneider sealed it on the power play at 18:55, from Geiger and Fitzhenry.
In goal and on special teams
Dubuque outshot the NTDP 32-23, and Winters stopped 28 of 32. L. Carrithers made 17 saves for the Saints. The U18s went 2-for-3 on the power play, and Dubuque was 1-for-2. Thibodeau, Sears, and Voroteliak were the three stars.
What’s next
The teams met again Saturday in Plymouth and are scheduled to finish the three-game set Sunday at 4 p.m. at USA Hockey Arena.
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