by Matt Gajtka

MUSKEGON, Mich. – The Dubuque Fighting Saints had 10 different players record a point, as they stopped the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-0 in the L.C. Walker Arena home opener Saturday night.

 

Lumberjacks goaltender John Keeney, making his first appearance with his new team after being traded from Omaha to Muskegon this week, made 21 saves to keep it close.

 

A handful of stops from the three-year USHL veteran were spectacular, but the Saints’ tandem of Matt Morris, who left due to injury in the first, and Gabe Antoni combined to keep the Jacks’ 25 shots out of the net.

 

Muskegon (1-4-0, 2 points) controlled the pace of play in the first, but Dubuque (5-2-0, 10 points) took over from the second period on to pull away and record its fourth-straight win and third consecutive on the road.

 

The Lumberjacks outshot the Saints 14-6 in the opening 20 minutes, but the visitors escaped with the period’s only goal, as Zemgus Girgensons tipped Max Gardiner’s centering pass into the twine with 3:41 remaining.

 

Dubuque took 10 of the second period’s 12 total shots, with Shane Walsh and Shane Sooth each picking up even-strength goals to stretch the lead out to 3-0. Walsh connected after a pass from Lawrence Cornellier at 5:35 and Sooth ripped a wrister home following Gerard Hanson’s steal seven minutes later.

 

The Saints’ Tyler Lundey netted the only goal of the third six minutes in.

 

Dubuque killed all seven Muskegon power plays – six of which occurred in the final 40 minutes. The Lumberjacks only put the Saints on the man advantage twice and killed them both.

 

Matt DeBlouw, Dakota Klecha and Mike Moran each had three shots for the Jacks.

 

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1660252 for complete box score.

 

The Lumberjacks hit the road for a Sunday matinee matchup in Chicago with the Steel. Opening faceoff is 4:00 p.m. Eastern time from the Edge Ice Arena. The Meijer Pregame Show begins approximately 30 minutes prior to game time on 92.5 The Outlaw!

 

The next home game at L.C. Walker Arena will be Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:15 p.m. against the Chicago Steel. Kids under 12 wearing a Halloween costume get in free all weekend, as the Jacks take on Waterloo Sunday at 5:15 p.m. Call (231) 724-JACK, or visit startickets.com or your local Meijer to purchase your tickets!