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USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Take Game 1 from Sioux City 5-1

April 14, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls Stampede Celebrate Goal vs. Sioux City Musketeers
Sioux Falls Stampede Celebrate Goal vs. Sioux City Musketeers
(Sioux Falls Stampede, Credit: Derek Schmidt)

Sioux Falls, SD-The Stampede played 60 games during the regular season for a chance at the playoffs and they made sure to make the most of their opportunity. Logan O'Connor scored twice while Steff Lekkas was impressive between the pipes making 36 saves as the Stampede took Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinal series, 5-1, against the Sioux City Musketeers Tuesday night at the PREMIER Center. Cooper Marody added two assists while Kieffer Bellows had a goal and an assist as the Herd entertained all 4,665 fans in attendance for the first ever playoff game at the PREMIER Center. The Stampede now lead the best-of-five series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Thursday night in Sioux City.

The Stampede knew one of the biggest keys to success against the Musketeers would be getting off to a good start and they would do just that scoring just 57 seconds into the game. Logan O'Connor took a pass at center ice from Kieffer Bellows and raced in towards the net and was hauled down just in front of the net, but his momentum carried him into the net and pushed the puck past Collin Olson to make it a 1-0 game. The Herd played well for the rest of the period as did the Musketeers, but Steff Lekkas of the Herd and Olson of the Musketeers kept the offense in check and Sioux Falls took a 1-0 lead into the locker room. Sioux City outshot the Herd 12-11 in the period.

The Stampede went on the power play just over four minutes into the second period, but it was the Musketeers who struck with a goal when Joe Snively snuck past the Stampede defense and took a pass at the blue line and broke into the Stampede zone on a breakaway, beating Stampede goaltender Stefanos Lekkas on the stick side to make it a 1-1 game. The Stampede responded just minutes later when Cooper Marody broke into the Sioux City zone and fed a perfect pass to the edge of the left circle where Kieffer Bellows skated in and slipped the puck past a diving Olson to give the Herd a 2-1 lead. Just over four minutes later it was Marody again who stole the puck behind the Sioux City net and sent a centering pass in the slot to O'Connor who faked on the forehand and went to his backhand before lifting the puck into the back of the net and giving Sioux Falls a 3-1 lead at the end of two periods. Sioux Falls outshot the Muskies 16-14 in the period.

The third period was more excitement as both teams exchanged power plays, but both goaltenders continued to play solid between the pipes and neither team was able to break through. Still down 3-1 and a minute left in the game, the Musketeers pulled Olson for an extra attacker, but Troy Loggins intercepted a pass and shot perfectly into the empty net to give the Herd a 4-1 edge. Daniel Warpecha sealed the game for good with a goal with 24 seconds left when he knocked home a loose rebound and the Herd took Game 1 by a score of 4-1.

Sioux Falls, who went 2-6-0 against Sioux City during the regular season, outshot the Musketeers 40-37 in the game and went 0-for-6 on the power play while stopping them on all four of their power play chances.

The series resumes on Thursday in Sioux City at 7:05 PM. Fans can catch the game live on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 107.9-FM and online at KELO.com starting at 6:40 PM. The Stampede are also hosting a Fan Bus for Game3 on Friday, contact the Stampede office at 336-6060 to get signed up. If necessary, Game 4 is Sunday night at the PREMIER Center at 6:05 PM. For ticket information contact the Stampede office at 336-6060.

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Images from this story

Sioux Falls Stampede Celebrate Goal vs. Sioux City Musketeers
Sioux Falls Stampede Celebrate Goal vs. Sioux City Musketeers
(Derek Schmidt)		   



United States Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2015


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