Musketeers Bombard Des Moines, 5-1
Published on November 17, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux City Musketeers News Release
DES MOINES, IA - The Musketeers were in Des Moines on Friday night for a big western conference battle with the Bucs and what a battle it was. Sioux City would, in the end, emerge victorious, skating to a big 5-1 victory. The Musketeers also wore special USS Sioux City warmup jerseys to honor the commissioning of the USS Sioux City in Annapolis tomorrow, so it should be no surprise that the Musketeers brought some firepower to Des Moines tonight.
It was clear early in the 1st period that the Musketeers were trying to get comfortable playing on a smaller ice sheet at Buccaneer Arena. It would cost Sioux City early as a neutral zone turnover led to a goal from Luke Manning under five minutes into the game. The goal seemed to give the Musketeers a spark, and they took it to the Bucs the next few shifts. Sioux City would be rewarded for their efforts thanks to the hot stick of Bobby Brink. The Musketeer top line did what they have done all season long and dazzled Des Moines with a few slick passes in the offensive zone setting up Martin Pospisil. Pospisil ripped a slap shot that was saved by Roman Durny, who kicked the rebound out to Marcus Kallionkieli. Durny made an excellent save on a shot from Kallionkieli, but the rebound would find its way a wide-open Bobby Brink. Brink wasted no time putting the puck in the back of the net to tie the game at one. Things started to get chippy towards the end of the frame but that would be just the beginning.
Sioux City came out with their foot on the gas in the 2nd period and put the pressure on Des Moines in a big way.
Martin Pospisil came down on a 2 on 1 break early in the period and attempted to pass it to the slot. The puck would bounce off the skate of a Des Moines defender and into the net to give the Musketeers a 2-1 lead just 1:14 into the period. Marcus Kallionkieli and Nolan Krenzen had the assists on the play. Sioux City would get an opportunity on the powerplay six minutes later, and they took advantage. Kallionkieli got the puck in front of the net and made an excellent play to turn around, pull the puck to his forehand and bury his shot to give Sioux City a 3-1 advantage. Martin Pospisil and Luke Johnson had the assists on the play.
It would be Pospisil again just two minutes later, and this time he did it without the help of Des Moines. Pospisil gathered the puck near the top of the left circle before sending a laser past Durny to give Sioux City a 4-1 lead. Des Moines became visibly frustrated after the goal, and things would turn ugly. A scrum at the end of the period left Sioux City shorthanded to start the 3rd, and what a period it was.
Nearly halfway through the 3rd frame, Aaron Grounds would drop the gloves and have a classic bout with a Des Moines player. That kicked off a chain reaction that saw Kevin Lombardi, Anthony Kehrer, and Luke Johnson all drop the gloves in a near line brawl. The result was all players involved for both teams were sent to the locker room leaving both squads with a short bench the rest of the game.
That didn't seem to matter to Sioux City as they would go on to extend their lead in the period. Parker Ford put an initial shot on net that was stopped by Durny, but Ford remained persistent and managed to poke home the rebound to give Sioux City a 5-1 lead in an angry Buccaneer Arena. That would prove to be more than enough for Sioux City as they shut down Des Moines the rest of the game and skated off with a decisive 5-1 victory.
Ben Kraws, who had a tough game last time in Des Moines, was excellent in net for Sioux City stopping 29 of 30 shots sent his way. Durny made 30 saves for Des Moines.
With the win, the Musketeers extended their current win streak to five games and sit tied with Tri-City atop the USHL's Western Conference. The Musketeers will get a much deserved weekend off before a big three-game Thanksgiving week. The first game next week will come against the Waterloo Black Hawks, and Sioux City should be hungry to beat the Black Hawks on home ice. Puck drop set for 6:35 pm don't miss it!
United States Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2018
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- Flying Aces Down Phantoms - Youngstown Phantoms
- Central Illinois Downs Youngstown, 5-2 - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- Capitols Fall to Steel 4-3 in Overtime - Madison Capitols
- Muskegon Locks Down Cedar Rapids 4-0 - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Penalties, Ohrvall Take Down Stars in Waterloo - Lincoln Stars
- Steel Win Third Straight, Down Team USA 5-3 Saturday Night - Chicago Steel
- Preview - Stars vs. Black Hawks - Lincoln Stars
- Musketeers Bombard Des Moines, 5-1 - Sioux City Musketeers
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