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 Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Rally to Top Bucs, 4-2

December 17, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD-For the first time this season, the Sioux Falls Stampede earned a victory after allowing the first goal of the game as the Herd rallied to top the Des Moines Buccaneers 4-2 Wednesday night in front of 4,700 fans at the PREMIER Center. The win improved the Herd's record to 11-11-3 and moved them into sole possession of fourth place in the West, just two points behind third place Des Moines. Lucas Buchta led the way with two goals and an assist while Stefanos Lekkas stopped 19 of 21 shots to earn his 8th win of the season.

The Herd were hoping to get off to a quick start in front of the home fans, but it was the Bucs who would strike first as Mark Petaccio sent a pass up the right wing boards to Joe Widmar who skated into the top of the right circle where Widmar blasted a shot into the upper left hand corner of the net to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead. The Herd would go on the power play late in the period, but were unable to convert and Des Moines took a 1-0 lead into the locker room. The Herd outshot the Bucs 13-8 in the period.

Sioux Falls got things going in the second, scoring 8:06 in when Kieffer Bellows tallied his seventh goal of the season. Aaron Herdt brought the puck through the Bucs zone and sent a pass in the slot to Bellows who tipped the puck through the pads of Des Moines goaltender Ryland Pashovitz to make it a 1-1 game. The Bucs would respond just two minutes later when Joe Widmar struck again, this time on a rebound in front of the net and Des Moines regained their one goal edge.

Troy Loggins would tie the game back up for the Herd at 14:05 when he wristed a shot into the back of the net. Sioux Falls took their first lead of the night with just 41 seconds remaining when Lucas Buchta took a pass in the high slot from affiliate player Wes Michaud and one timed it through traffic and just under the crossbar to give Sioux Falls a 3-2 edge at the end of the second period. The Herd outshot the Bucs 10-8 in the period.

In the third, the Bucs enjoyed some time on the power play, including over a minute of a 5-on-3 advantage, but Lekkas and the Stampede defense were solid and held the Buccaneers off the board. The Herd would later go on a power play of their own and Buchta would strike again when Logan O'Connor sent a pass to the right point for Buchta who blasted it through traffic and into the back of the net to give the Herd a 4-2 lead. Des Moines got one more power play opportunity, but again Lekkas was strong between the pipes and made some nice saves to keep the lead and preserve the 4-2 victory.

Sioux Falls outshot Des Moines 28-21 on the night and went 1-for-2 on the power play while Des Moines was 0-for-4. The Herd return to action Friday in Fargo to face the Force at 7:05 PM in their final game before the holiday break. Fans can catch all the action on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 107.9-FM and online at kelo.com.


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