Herd Slay Force in 5-2 Win
March 1, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
FARGO, N.D. - The Sioux Falls Stampede took down the league-leading Fargo Force in a 5-2 win. Newcomers Christian Manz and Chase LaPinta made their mark in blue and gold, while team points leader JJ Wiebusch earned his 50th point of the season to secure two points. The Stampede moved to 22-22-4-1 on the season and currently sits in 5th place with 49 points.
The Sioux Falls Stampede traveled to Fargo for a two-game series against the 80-point team. Though the Stampede held their own early, Fargo struck at 3:32 with a goal from Mac Swanson off a face-off. Just after the 11-minute mark, the Stampede headed to their first power play of the night, but it was cut short less than a minute later when Hunter Anderson was called for a slash. Anderson made up for it a few minutes later by tying the game off of a pass from JJ Wiebusch. The assist earned Wiebusch his 50th point of the season. With less than a minute left in the period Michael Neumeier was called for holding to send the Stampede to their second power play of the night, but the Herd was unable to convert in the remaining seconds. Both teams headed to the locker with one goal, but the Force led in shots on goal with 19 to the Herd's 7.
The action picked up in the second as the Herd earned two more goals. To start the period, though, the Stampede's power play was shortened, again, when forward Hunter Anderson was called for high sticking. At 8:51, the Herd pulled ahead of the Force when JJ Wiebusch beat Fargo goaltender Hampton Slukynsky five-hole. Shortly after, Hunter Anderson was called on his third penalty of the night sending the team back to the penalty kill. The Herd killed it off thanks to a few large saves from newly acquired goaltender Christian Manz. With less than a minute left in the second period, the Herd would strike again with a goal from Winnipeg Jets prospect Zach Nehring. Nehring tipped in the rebound of a shot from teammate Noah Eyre. The Stampede headed to the locker room with a 3-1 lead and outshot the Force 13 to 8 in the second period.
Things really heated up in the third period as the Stampede tried to hold onto their lead in hopes of breaking an 8-game losing streak. It started out rocky for the Herd after being called for another penalty at 3:18 of the third. The second-best power play in the league struck as the Force put themselves with one with a goal from Brandon Svoboda. After two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey and a huge penalty kill the Stampede had to hold on for five minutes to close this one out. With two minutes remaining, the Force pulled their goalie. Though unable to strike at first, newly acquired Chase LaPinta earned the team's first empty netter of the net of the night. Veteran defenseman Artur Cholach also earned an empty net goal with only a second remaining in the game. The two goals would confirm the team's 5-2 victory.
Goaltender Christian Manz was vital to the Herd's success in his first start in navy and gold. Manz made 47 saves on 49 shots earning himself a .959 save percentage on the night. He now moves to 9-9-1-1 on the season with a cumulative .878 save percentage.
The Stampede return to Scheels Arena tomorrow night for a 6:05 pm face-off against the Fargo Force as they look to repeat.
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