2024 Clark Cup Finals: Three Takeaways From Fargo's Game 2 Win Over Dubuque
The Fargo Force are on the brink of their second Clark Cup championship and their first since 2018. Despite being outshot 33-29, Fargo defeated the Dubuque Fighting Saints 6-3 in Game 2 of the 2024 Clark Cup Finals.
The Saints opened the scoring at the 6:18 mark of the first period before Fargo responded with two goals in quick succession. Beckett Hendrickson temporarily tied the game at the 7:49 mark of the second period before Leo Gruba put the Force back in front later in the frame.
The Force scored three times in the third period to pull away from Dubuque and capture the victory. Fargo takes a 2-0 lead in the series and can clinch in Dubuque in Game 3 next Friday.
Let's go to the takeaways from Saturday's Game 2.
Fargo's Firepower
The Force saw five different skaters find the back of the net on Saturday night, including two goals from Tom Leppa, who now has four goals in his last four games.
Michael La Starza tallied his fourth of the season with under two minutes left in the first period. Leo Gruba scored for the second consecutive night. Lee Parks scored on the power play, and Mac Swanson hit the empty net for the second straight game.
Slukynsky Makes Postseason-High 30 Saves
It was fair to expect a strong pushback from Dubuque, who had a sleepy start in Game 1. The Fighting Saints registered 13 shots on goal in the first period and 33 overall. Fargo netminder allowed a goal in each period but made 30 saves on the night, which is the most action he has seen in the playoffs thus far.
It was just the third time in ten postseason games that Slukynsky had allowed more than two goals. Facing an elimination game next Friday, the Fargo netminder can expect a similar workload.
Dubuque Stars Held Quiet
Tied to Slukynsky's performance, but the Fighting Saints will need a team effort in Game 3 to stay alive after the team's top performers during the regular season were held quiet on Saturday.
Forwards Noah Powell, Jake Sondreal, Erik Pahlsson, and James Reeder, as well as defensemen Jayden Jubenvill and Joona Vaisanen, combined for one point in Game 2.
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