Herd Takes Game One in Overtime, Defeats Storm 6-5
April 16, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
KEARNEY, NEB. - The Sioux Falls Stampede earned its first playoff win since 2019 by taking down the Tri-City Storm, 6-5 in overtime on Monday evening. Tyler Borgula found four points with Hunter Anderson beating Cameron Korpi and taking the win for the Herd.
The Herd was able to get out of the gates first with a goal from John McNelis less than halfway through the first period, assisted by Chris Pelosi. Jaksen Panzer then added to the Herd's lead around five minutes later, with help from Tyler Borgula and Chase LaPinta. The Storm found its own goal 38 seconds later, sending the period into intermission with a score of 2-1 in favor of the Herd. Shots on net were kept relatively low in the first, with the Herd marking eight against the Storm's seven.
Starting off the second frame, Chase LaPinta earned his second point of the night with a goal at the 4:41 mark, assisted by Artur Cholach and Borgula. The Storm pulled back within one with under four minutes remaining. They then tied the game up with under three minutes left, leaving the Herd to fight back for the lead. Around 45 seconds later, Tyler Borgula grabbed the lead, help from LaPinta and Alex Rybakov, to make it 4-3 Stampede.
Keeping things interesting in the final regulation frame, Tri-City tied the game up for the second time around 8:44 into the period. Once again, Tyler Borgula wasn't about to let it stay that way, tabbing his second goal of the evening with just 58 seconds left in regulation. This wouldn't be enough as Tri-City would grab one final goal with four seconds remaining, tying the game for the third time.
After a ton of back and forth over the first half of the 20-minute, five-on-five overtime period, the Herd found a spark. The trio of Hunter Anderson, Jaksen Panzer and Matthew Grimes worked the puck around the offensive zone until Anderson grabbed the puck down low on the right side. He moved in around the outside of the crease and was able to slide the puck past Korpi for the overtime, powerplay, game-winning goal.
It took 71 minutes and 14 seconds for the Herd to clinch game one, but Christian Manz fought hard through the whole thing. Manz saved 26-of-31 shots on his net for a .839 save percentage and 4.21 goals-against average. This is Manz's fifth playoff win in his career after spending two post-seasons with the Chicago Steel in 2022 and 2023.
The Herd and Storm meet again tomorrow to either have the Herd heading into the second round of playoffs or having the pair meet for a third time on Wednesday night. The winner of this best-of-three series heads to Fargo, N.D. this weekend to play two games before heading home and hosting at least one game on home ice. If it is the Stampede that makes this push, more information on tickets and schedules will be released following the end of round one.
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