USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Blanked by Sioux City

Published on November 4, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Home was not so sweet for the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday night as they were shut out by the Sioux City Muskateers 5-0 at the Sioux Falls Arena. Harvard recruit Kyle Criscuolo had two points for the Muskateers (3-7-0), while goalie Matt Skoff stopped all 32 Stampede shots he faced on the evening. Stampede goalie Stephon Williams had an uncharacteristic game, giving up five goals on 28 shots. Williams came into the game hot with a 2.05 goals-against average and a 0.936 save percentage. The Herd didn't provide much help either, being blanked for the first time this season.

"He (Williams) is a good goalie and he'll rebound," said Stampede head coach Kevin Hartzell, whose team fell to 3-4-1 after the loss. "You have got to be able to have a not-so-good night and you have got to be able to rebound."

Sioux City scored the first goal of the game 3:46 into the opening period when Pontus Johannson found himself alone behind Stephon William's right side. Johannson's shot hit the roof of the net and gave the Musketeers a 1-0 lead. The Herd were held scoreless despite 10 shots on goal, and were unable to take advantage of the lone power play of the period.

The Stampede's frustrations continued into the second period, when Sioux City forward Robin Hoglund put a rebound past Williams only seconds after the Herd came within inches of tying the game. Sioux Falls was given their second power play chance of the game at 7:23 when Williams was knocked down during a skirmish between the two teams. The man advantage turned into a five-on-three with 6:46 left in the period thanks to a slashing penalty on Musketeer forward Josh Erickson. However, Sioux Falls would be unable to capitalize on the two man advantage. Matters were made worse for the Herd with only 21 seconds left in the period when Sioux City's Dane Cooper put a wrist shot from just inside the left circle past Williams to give the Musketeers a three goal advantage going into the final period of play.

"We could have had three or four goals easy through two periods," said Hartzell, adding that his team "started getting impatient and frustrated."

The Musketeers carried the momentum into the third period, scoring less than two minutes in when forward Peter Maric blasted a shot from between the circles, making the game 4-0. A fight at 16:06 left the Stampede without forward Dan Carlson, who was ejected for instigating the fight. Sioux City's David Henry put the final nail in the coffin with 6:29 left in the game with a smooth backhand directly in front of Williams, who was pulled in favor of backup Charlie Lindgren. Matt Skoff was able hold off the Stampede the rest of the way for his first shutout of the season. Lindgren stopped all five shots in relief and is expected to get his second start of the season tomorrow night.

"It wasn't as bad as it looked, and at the same time there's so much room for improvement," said Hartzell. "Our game tomorrow night can't come fast enough."

The Stampede will host the Tri-City Storm Saturday 7:05 PM at the Sioux Falls Arena.

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2011


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