Stampede Stumble at Sioux City in Game 2
April 16, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
Sioux City, IA-The Sioux Falls Stampede couldn't hold on to a 2-1 lead as the Sioux City Musketeers rallied to score three times in third period and defeat the Stampede 4-2 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals Thursday night. The win evened the best-of-five series at 1-1 with Game 3 taking place Friday night in Sioux City. Game 4 will be Sunday at 6:05 PM at the PREMIER Center. Tickets for the game go on sale at 12 PM Friday at the PREMIER Center Box Office or any Tickemaster outlet.
Troy Loggins tallied two goals in the game for the Stampede while Dakota Joshua added two assists and Stefanos Lekkas stopped 27 shots in goal. The loss kept the Stampede winless at the Tyson Events Center this year as the club went 0-4-0 in Sioux City during the regular season.
The Stampede knew the Musketeers would bring their "A' game down 1-0 in the series and the Herd were ready from the beginning of the game to match the Musketeers intensity. The Herd outshot the Musketeers 14-11 in the period, but it was the Musketeers who grabbed the only goal of the period at the 18:16 mark when David Trinkberger blasted a shot from the left point that just beat Stampede goaltender Steff Lekkas' glove side and gave the Musketeers a 1-0 lead after one period.
The Stampede responded in the second period scoring just 36 seconds in when Dakota Joshua drove down the right wing wall and sent a pass to the edge of the left circle to Loggins who one-timed the puck past Sioux City goaltender Collin Olson. It remained that way until the 7:20 mark when Loggins struck again for the Herd, this time moving into the left circle he wristed a shot past Olson to give the Herd a 2-1 advantage. Sioux Falls would outshoot the Musketeers 15-8 in the period and sat just 20 minutes away from a 2-0 series lead with a 2-1 lead.
Sioux City made a statement that they weren't going to let that happen and tied the game 4:44 into the third period when Ryan Walker skated through the slot and backhanded a shot into the net. The Musketeers took their first lead of the series at 7:33 when Joel Janatuinen blocked a Stampede shot and took the puck down the right wing boards, into the Stampede zone before cutting in front of the Herd net and wristing a shot past Stampede goaltender Steff Lekkas to make it a 3-2 game. It was the first time in nearly two full games that the Musketeers had the lead. Sioux Falls battled hard for the rest of the period and nearly tied the game on several occasions, but couldn't cash in on their opportunities and still trailed 3-2 with a minute to go. With 44 seconds left and a face-off in the offensive zone, the Herd took a timeout and pulled Lekkas, but off the draw the Musketeers' Robert Carpenter flung the puck all the way down the ice, placing it perfectly into the empty net and sealing the game for the Musketeers who outshot the Stampede 12-4 in the period.
Sioux Falls outshot the Musketeers 33-31 on the night and went 0-for-3 on the power play while stopping the league's best power play unit on all four of their chances.
The Herd return to action Friday night for Game 3 at the Tyson Events Center. Game time is 7:05 PM and can be heard on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 107.9-FM and online at KELO.com. Game 4 is Sunday night in Sioux Falls at 6:05 PM. The Herd will host a tailgate party by the Birdcage from 4-6 PM with games, inflatable's, Mr. Twister will be making balloon animals for children and there will be food and drink available for purchase.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2015
- Three in Final Frame Give Storm 2-0 Series Lead - Tri-City Storm
- Stampede Stumble at Sioux City in Game 2 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm with 3-2 Comeback Win - Omaha Lancers
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