USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Can't Rally Past Green Bay

January 22, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Green Bay, WI- The Sioux Falls Stampede tried to rally from a two-goal deficit for the second straight Friday, but came up just short in a 2-1 loss to the Green Bay Gamblers Friday night at the Resch Center. The Herd are now 17-16-2 on the season and 1-7-1 since the winter break. Jack Suter tallied the Herd's lone goal of the game while Stefanos Lekkas stopped 35 shots for the Herd who are in the midst of a five-game road swing.

The Green Gay Gamblers are home to one of the top scorers in the USHL and the Stampede and the Herd had seen enough of him in the first period alone. Less than four minutes into the game the Herd found themselves in the penalty box and the Gamblers took advantage. Jack Poehling sent a perfect pass into the left circle to Nick Poehling who found leading scorer Sam Saliba who skated in front of the goal and tapped the puck past Stampede goaltender Stefanos Lekkas. Six minutes later the Herd found themselves on a 5-on-3 power play, but couldn't find a way past Green Bay goaltender Adam Huska. Green Bay extended their lead to 2-0 at 15:34 of the first when Saliba struck again on the power play. Marc Michaelis saw Saliba streaking in front of the net again and sent a quick pass right onto the tape of Saliba and he once again slapped the puck into the back of the net. Green Bay outshot the Herd 15-12 in the period.

Sioux Falls was able to settle things down in the second, limiting the Gamblers to scoring opportunities and when they did, Lekkas was brilliant as usual between the pipes. The Herd pulled within a goal at 14:35 of the period when Joe Rutkowski kept the puck in at the right point and saw Jack Suter alone in front of the goal and quickly sent a pass to Suter who was able to move around Green Bay goaltender Adam Huska and tuck the puck under his left arm and into the net to make it a 2-1 game. Green Bay outshot the Herd 11-9 in the period, but the Stampede entered the final period still down just one goal.

Sioux Falls did their best to find a way to tie the game in the third, but the Gamblers played stingy defense and limited the Herd to just four shots in the period though the Stampede did generate some quality scoring chances in the period. The Herd pulled Lekkas in the final minute, but could not find a way to beat Huska and came up short, 2-1.

Green Bay outshot the Herd 11-4 in the period and 37-25 on the night. Green Bay finished 2-for-4 on the power play while the Herd were 0-for-4.

The Stampede will look to earn the weekend split on Saturday when they face the Gamblers again at the Resch Center at 7:05 PM. Fans can listen live starting at 6:40 PM on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 107.9-FM and online at KELO.com.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central