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.
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