Missed Chances Doom the Buccaneers

Tonight at Mystique Ice Center in Dubuque was one of those nights the Buccaneers have become all too accustomed to seeing.  A night where they had several opportunities to put the puck in the net, but come up short in the end as the losing streak climbs to seven games.  No opportunity that the Buccaneers was bigger than the chance Joe Gambardella got on a breakaway shortly after Dubuque took the 1-0 lead midway through the second period.  Gambardella was turned away by Dubuque goaltender, Matt Morris.  The Buccaneers would get other scoring chances from Garrett Allen and Justin Hussar.  Hussar took nine shots on the evening, but was unable to find the back of the net with any of them.  Don't get me wrong, Matt Morris played a great game, but the Buccaneers must be able to capitalize on their chances.

Perhaps if there is a silver lining to be found in the loss tonight, it is the play of newly acquired goaltender, Pheonix Copley.   The Michigan Tech recruit turned away 23 of the 24 shots that he faced, and with the exception of the wrap around goal he gave up to to Zemgus Girgensons, he was a very solid goaltender tonight.  The Buccaneers have been starving for consistent goaltending, something they have not had all season.

Friday night the Buccaneers return home to face a team that has become a newly established rival, the Sioux Falls Stampede in a game that they need to have.  The Stampede have had the Buccaneers' number all season, as the Buccaneers have gone 0-2-1 in what has been an emotional series.  I fully expect the Buccaneers to come out ready to play with some passion on Friday night and put an end to this losing streak.

February 8 Des Moines Buccaneers @ Dubuque Fighting Saints

Tonight marks the beginning of a crucial three game weekend for the Des Moines Buccaneers.  The Bucs currently sit in a tie with the Tri-City Storm for the sixth and final playoff spot in the USHL's western conference.  To say the Buccaneers have had a difficult time the past month would be an incredible understatement.  The Buccaneers have fallen from being in position to have home ice in the opening playoff series, to now having to battle just to make the playoffs.  Since the holiday break ended, the Buccaneers are 3-8-3 and are currently on a six game winless streak.

The opponent tonight is the defending Clark Cup Champion, Dubuque Fighting Saints.  In their only meeting with Dubuque, the Buccaneers defeated the Fighting Saints 4-0 in Buccaneer Arena back on November 26.  In that meeting, Kevin Irwin had 2 goals, Anthony Greco added 2 helpers, and Jason Kasdorf stopped all 36 shots he face in route to the shutout.  Dubuque currently sits in third place in the eastern conference, trailing first place Green Bay by 13 points.

If the Buccaneers are to leave Dubuque with the two points tonight, it is essential that they play their game and keep the game open.  Dubuque will look to slow the Buccaneers and keep things tightened up.  The Fighting Saints only allow 2.7 goals a game which is second best in the USHL.  If the Buccaneers can get a goal early, and get a lot of pucks on the net, they have a very good chance at ending the losing skid tonight.

Since it's Dubuque tonight, I would be remiss if I did not include video from that epic night back in October of 2010.