SIOUX CITY, IA -- The Sioux Falls Stampede were looking for a little revenge against their I-29 rivals, but struggled to generate scoring chances on the power play and fell 4-1 to the Sioux City Musketeers Friday night at the Tyson Events Center.

The Herd went 0-for-9 with the advantage and fell to 1-2-1 on the season while the Musketeers improved to 3-0-1. Daniel Warpecha tallied the Herd’s only goal while Steffanos Lekkas stopped 21 shots on the night.

After a slow start to the game, the Herd grabbed the first goal of the game at 11:20 when Warpecha tallied his first career USHL goal. Lawton Courtnall took the puck down the left wing boards and cut inside the left circle and wristed a shot on Musketeers goaltender Collin Olson who stopped the puck, but the rebound bounced to Warpecha who backhanded the puck into the back of the net.

It stayed that way until the final minute of play when Joe Snivley scored on a rebound to tie the game 1-1. Sioux City outshot the Stampede 11-7 in the period.

The Herd got into some penalty trouble in the second, finding themselves down two men for 1:13. The Herd played well defensively, but just as they killed off both penalties the Musketeers got a blast from the high slot off the stick of Adam Johnson that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Sioux Falls tried to charge back throughout the period, but struggled to do anything on the power play and remained a goal back until the Musketeers struck again in the final minute of the period. Lekkas made a beautiful save, sliding left to right, but the puck just squeaked through the pads into the crease where Sam Kurker snuck in an slapped the puck into the net to extend the Musketeers lead to 3-1. Sioux City outshot the Herd 9-5 in the period.

The power play woes continued in the third as the Herd were unable to connect on any of their three chances as they tried to battle back from a two goal deficit. Sioux Falls would pull Lekkas with a 1:30 to go while on the power play, but the Musketeers scored a shorthanded empty net goal when Snively scored from center ice to seal the game at 4-1.

The Musketeers outshot the Herd 25- 21 on the night and were held scoreless on seven power plays of their own.

Sioux City is now 2-0-0 against the Herd heading into their third game of the season series this Wednesday in Sioux Falls.

The Stampede will play their first ever game at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Saturday night at 7:05 PM against Waterloo. Fans are encouraged to plan ahead and allow some extra time as a record crowd is expected.

Fans of all ages are invited to the Stampede “Tailgate Party at the Birdcage” starting at 4:00 PM inside Sioux Falls Stadium. Free live music, inflatables, face painting and games will be available.  The Menno High School Marching Band will perform and march fans over to the PREMIER Center just before 6:00 PM.

 

Sioux Falls Stampede at Sioux City Musketeers, 10-04-2014
Sioux Falls Stampede
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Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede

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