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USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Schwalbe's Late Goal Gives Stampede to 2-1 Series Lead over Tri-City

May 1, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD-Ryan Schwalbe's goal with 1:33 left in regulation gave the Stampede a 4-3 victory over Tri-City in front of 5,201 fans at the PREMIER Center Friday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. The win gives the Stampede a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series with Game 4 being played Saturday night at the PREMIER Center at 7:05 PM. Tickets are available at the KELOLAND Box Office inside the PREMIER Center or any Ticketmaster outlet. The Stampede will be looking to advance to the Clark Cup Final with a win while the Storm will try to force a Game 5 back in Kearney.

Troy Loggins scored twice and added an assist on the game winning goal while Logan O'Connor scored shorthanded and Stefanos Lekkas stopped 19 of 22 shots in goal for the win.

Tri-City came out flying in the first two minutes of the game, but the Stampede played strong defense and grabbed the first goal of the game just 4:47 into the period when Dakota Joshua softly sent a pass into the slot for Troy Loggins who wristed a shot past the stick side of Dillon to give the Herd a 1-0 advantage and send all 5,201 fans to their feet. Sioux Falls would control the rest of the period and had several other chances to increase their lead, but Dillon and the Storm were able to hold off the Stampede charge and the score remained 1-0 at the end of the first period. Sioux Falls outshot the Storm 14-2 in the period.

Sioux Falls continued their dominance early in the second, but the Storm stayed within a goal and then went on a power play just seven minutes into the period and capitalized. Mason Appleton sent the puck to the left for Chris Wilkie who blasted a shot past the glove side of Lekkas to make it a 2-1 game. Tri-City gained momentum from that goal and put pressure on the Herd, but Lekkas was solid between the pipes and kept the game tied. Sioux Falls went on the power play late in the period and Loggins again cashed in, this time with just four seconds remaining in the period. Cooper Marody took the puck inside the left circle and wristed a shot onto Dillon who made the initial save, but the rebound bounced to Loggins who banked the puck off of Dillon and into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game. Sioux Falls outshot the Storm 11-8 in the period.

The Herd found themselves in a bit of trouble early in the third as they went on the penalty kill, but Logan O'Connor made the Storm pay, scoring shorthanded. With the puck in the neutral zone near the Stampede bench, O'Connor chipped the puck up the right wing wall and beat the Storm defenders in a race for the puck. He then skated in front of the net and backhanded a shot past Dillon to give the Herd a 3-1 advantage at the PREMIER Center. The Storm wouldn't go down without a fight however and would benefit from a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity at 11:06. Bobby Nardella found Mason Appleton open at the top of the right circle and Appleton wristed a shot right over the left shoulder of Lekkas to make it a 3-2 game. The Herd would kill the remaining 1:38 of the other power play off, but the Storm would tie the game at even strength at 15:24. Daniel Labosky Wade Allsion crashed the right side of the goal and a shot bounced off the pads to Lekkas before Chase Berger dove in above the crease and knocked home the rebound to tie the game 3-3 and silent the PREMIER Center crowd.

It appeared we might have overtime for the first time this series, but Ryan Schwalbe ended any thought of that when he scored at 18:27. Loggins sent a pass into the right wing corner for Schwalbe who held the puck at the goal line before wristing a shot at the net that deflected off the skate of Dillon and into the back of the net sending Stampede Country into frenzy. The Herd would kill off the remaining 1:33 of the game and earn the Game 3 win.

Sioux Falls outshot Tri-City 40-22 on the night and finished 1-for-4 on the power play while Tri-City was 2-for-7.

The Stampede will entertain Tri-City in Game 4 on Saturday night at 7:05 PM. Fans can take part in a free pre-game tailgate party from 4-6:30 PM outside the Birdcage. There will be free face painting, a photo booth, tailgate games, bouncy houses, food, music and more! The first 100 people that come to the tailgate party will receive a FREE hot dog, compliments of the Stampede. The Stampede office will be open at 12 PM tomorrow to help with any ticketing options or questions you may have. If the Herd will they will advance to the Clark Cup Final for the first time since 2007 and should they lose, a deciding Game 5 will take place Tuesday in Kearney.

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