Force Win in Playoff OT Thriller
May 1, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Fargo Force News Release
The Force trailed by a goal four different times in tonight's contest but came back to clinch a 5-4 OT victory. Cody Monds started the scoring for the Force and called the game at the end leading the team with two goals and an assist. Tristan Broz put up a three-point night as well with a goal and the primary assist on the goal to send the game to overtime. Force goaltender Brennan Boynton made some huge plays in the net tonight to keep Fargo's playoff hopes alive stopping 29/33 SOG.
Similar to last night's contest the Storm kicked off the scoring just over halfway through the first. Tri-City forward Matthew Knies was credited with the goal, deflecting in a shot from Isac Johnson. Two minutes later, at 15:23 the Force answered back with a goal of their own. Cody Monds banged home a shot from Owen Gallatin tying up the score at 1-1. Period one closed with the two teams locked in tie with 11 shots on goal apiece.
The Storm struck first in period number two as well redirecting one past Force goaltender Brennan Boynton. Then, at 7:58 Ryan Siedem was sent to the box for roughing giving Tri-City a 5 on 4-man advantage. But it was Force forward Austin Wong who scored 11 seconds into the powerplay, sending in a shorthanded goal to tie the game back up at 2-2. Just under a minute after that at 9:03 in the second period Tri-City lit the lamp with their first PP goal of the game, taking back their one-point lead. The remainder of the period saw two Fargo powerplay opportunities, but the Force weren't able to capitalize on their man advantage heading into the second intermission down by a goal.
The Force got their chance early in the third as they found themselves in a 5 on 3-man advantage 5 minutes into the period. Tristan Broz lit the lamp off a crossing pass from Cody Monds, tying the score once again, this time at 3-3. At 10:37 Tri-City regained the lead once again after commotion in front of the net resulted in a puck squeezing past the skate of Boynton. With right around two minutes remaining in regulation the Force pulled their goalie and added an extra attacker on the ice. With 1:14 remaining the play paid off as Aaron Huglen found the sweet spot directing in a pass from Tristan Broz and tying the game for the fourth and final time. Period three closed with the score even at 4-4, the Force leading in SOG 34-30, and the teams heading into overtime.
The Storm saw a couple early opportunities in OT but 2:52 into the 20-minute overtime period Cody Monds called game. He ripped one in top shelf off a beautiful pass behind the net from Aaron Huglen. The Force secured a 5-4 victory in night two of the playoffs and force a game three in Kearney tomorrow afternoon, at 4:05 PM.
United States Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2021
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