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USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Can't Slow Down Bucs on Home Ice

March 2, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Stampede were hoping for another exciting comeback win at the PREMIER Center Wednesday night, but after pulling within a goal in the final period, the Herd couldn't get the tying goal and fell 4-2 to the Des Moines Buccaneers before 4,808 fans. The loss dropped the Herd to 22-22-3 on the year, but they remain just two points behind Omaha and Waterloo for the final playoff spot. Carson Gicewicz led the way for Sioux Falls while Stefanos Lekkas gave the Herd an opportunity to stay in the game with 24 saves.

The Herd were hoping to come out of the gate and find the back of the net early, but the Bucs beat them to the punch, scoring just 4:07 into the period when Alec Rauhauser wristed a shot into the upper left hand corner of the net past Stampede goaltender Stefanos Lekkas. The Stampede would respond at 11:19 when Carson Gicewicz skated past the Bucs defense down the left wing side and cut into the slot before wristing a shot through the pads of Des Moines goaltender Nick MacNab to tie the game 1-1. The Stampede were hoping they could take the lead from there, but again it would be the Bucs spoiling the party and regaining the lead at 17:08 of the period when Zach Jordan blasted a shot into the back of the net to give Des Moines a 2-1 edge after the first period with both teams tallying 12 shots on goal in the period.

It remained a one goal game until midway through the second period when the Bucs broke through to add to their lead when James Gobetz found Justin Howell who blasted a shot into the upper right hand corner of the net to make it a 3-1 game. The Bucs outshot the Herd 11-10 in period.

The Stampede knew the needed a much better effort in the third if they were to have a chance at coming back in this one and they looked like a different team in the third. Still trailing 3-1, the Stampede got the goal they needed at 10:21 of the period when Gicewicz tallied his second of the night. Jack Becker wristed a shot on goal that was initially stopped by MacNab, but Gicewicz crashed the net and was able to bat the puck out of the air and into the back of the net to bring the PREMIER Center crowd to their feet and make it a 3-2 game. From there the Herd were buzzing all over the net and nearly tied the game when an Alex Stevens blast from the left point clanked off the goal post. The Herd had some other close chances in front of the net, but the puck would not bounce their way. The Bucs would seal the game for good with 1:10 remaining when the puck squirted free to the neutral zone and Ty Pelton-Byce passed the puck into the empty net for a 4-2 victory.

The Stampede outshot the Bucs 13-5 in the final period and 35-28 in the game, but finished the night 0-for-3 on the power play while the Bucs were 0-for-1.

The Stampede will now prepare for some long road trips as they finish the season by playing 10 of their next 13 games on the road starting this Friday and Saturday when they travel to Dubuque for a pair of games. Puck drop Friday night is 7:35 PM. Fans can catch all the action live on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 107.9-FM and KELO.COM.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2016


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