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USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Score Late to Top Musketeers, 2-1

November 28, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD-Matt Riggleman's first career USHL goal with three minutes left in regulation broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the Stampede to a 2-1 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers before 6,081 fans at the PREMIER Center Saturday night. Stefanos Lekkas stopped 28 of 29 shots for his sixth win of the season in goal for the Herd who allowed a combined two goals in three games this past week. The win lifted the Herd three games above .500 for the first time this season at 12-9-0 and to 9-3-0 on home ice. Sioux Falls holds a 4-1-0 mark against their I-29 rivals this season.

After a scoreless first period in which the Herd killed off a four minute penalty, the Herd came out with plenty of energy in the second period. Sioux Falls gained the first goal of the game at 5:43 when Lawton Courtnall took the puck from behind the Sioux City net, spun at the bottom of the right circle and wristed a shot that squeaked through the pads of Sioux City goaltender Cam Gornet to give the Herd a 1-0 lead. The celebration would be short lived however as the Musketeers would respond just over 30 seconds later when Jackson Keane took a pass from Josh Wilkins in the slot and wristed it past Stampede goaltender Stefanos Lekkas to tie the game 1-1. Both teams exchanged some quality scoring chances, but both goaltenders stood tall and kept the game tied. The Herd ended the period by drawing a penalty on the Musketeers and carried that over for the first 1:06 into the second. Sioux City outshot the Herd 10-6 in the period.

Most of the third was a defensive of battle as both teams were limited to quality scoring chances and both goaltenders continued to play well between the pipes. It appeared the game may be heading into overtime still deadlocked at one, but Matt Riggleman changed all that with exactly three minutes remaining in regulation. Riggleman intercepted a pass on his own blue line, got back up on to the ice and charged into the Musketeers zone where he backhanded the puck through the pads of Gornet to bring all 6,081 fans onto their feet as the Herd regained the lead at 2-1. The goal was Riggleman's first career USHL goal. Sioux City would pull their goaltender late, but couldn't solve Lekkas and the Stampede hung on for a 2-1 victory and a weekend sweep of Western Conference opponents at the PREMIER Center.

Sioux Falls outshot the Musketeers 10-9 in the period, but were outshot in the game 29-28. The Herd finished the night 0-for-3 on the power play while the Musketeers were 0-for-1.

The Herd return to action next Thursday when they travel to Fargo to face the Force at 7:05 PM. Fans can catch the game live on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 107.9-FM and KELO.COM. The Stampede return home next Friday and Saturday to host Cedar Rapids and Chicago, Friday and Saturday night.

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2015


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