Looking at several key takeaways from this weekend's slate of USHL games, including the Dubuque Fighting Saints' two-game sweep over the NTDP.

Don't look now, but the Dubuque Fighting Saints are back on top of the Eastern Conference standings. Like they never left.

Dubuque took both games against the NTDP U17s this weekend and has now won three straight games and eight of their last ten.

The Saints shut out Team USA on Friday night behind a 40-shot effort from the offense. Dubuque scored one goal in every period, including Colin Frank's third of the year in the middle frame.

Goaltender Jan Spunar stopped all 19 shots sent his way and picked up his second consecutive shutout.

Michael Barron potted the game-winning goal on Saturday with under three minutes left in regulation. The goal marked Barron's sixth of the season, assisted by Heikki Ruohonen (PHI) and Kristian Kostadinski (BOS).

Netminder Liam Beerman turned aside 20-of-22 and picked up his third win in four appearances.

Youngstown Earns Much-Needed Sweep

The Youngstown Phantoms took both games against the Sioux City Musketeers at the Covelli Centre this weekend to bring their record back to .500.

The Phantoms saw five different skaters find the back of the net on Friday and six different skaters on Saturday.

Forwards Evan Jardine (2026) and Ryan Rucinski (2025) each scored a pair of goals between the two games.

In the first period on Friday night, Youngstown and Sioux City combined for six goals, including Jardine's first on the weekend. Rucinski potted the go-ahead goal 43 seconds into the third period.

The Phantoms again scored three times in the first period on Saturday, including Rucinski's second of the weekend and fourth overall.

Melvin Strahl (CBJ) picked up wins in both games, turning aside a combined 21-of-26 on net.

Fargo Extends Winning Streak

Just like that, the Fargo Force have surged to second place in the Western Conference standings, just three points behind Lincoln.

The Force have now won five straight games and collected points in eight of their last ten.

Merril Steenari tallied three goals on Friday night, including the overtime winner, giving him seven goals on the season.

The following night, Fargo used a three-goal third period to skate past the Omaha Lancers, who saw their four-game win streak end on Friday.

Forward Jordan Ronn had a four-goal performance, recording the first two goals of the game and the last two.

Netminder Alan Lendak picked up wins in both games and turned aside a combined 46-of-51.