Count the Sioux Falls Stampede as the second team to clinch a spot in the Clark Cup Playoffs, following the Lincoln Stars getting in last weekend.
Photo Courtesy of the Sioux Fall Stampede
The Herd claimed their place in the post-season with a 5-3 home win over the Sioux City Musketeers Saturday.
Aiden Wright was solid in net for the Stampede, making 18 saves to earn his 19th victory of the season.
It was a strange game, filled with plenty of physical mischief. Less than three minutes in, the Herd’s Ritter Coombs and the Musketeers’ Kason Muskcutt attempted to fight, but the referees were quick to separate them and assessed two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalties to both.
No sooner had the infractions expired than the two came out of the box and again dropped their gloves. This time, both skaters received fighting majors and game misconducts for a staged fight and sent to their respective dressing rooms.
After Sioux Falls went on the power play, Aiden Wright made a brilliant save to prevent a shorthanded goal from the Musketeers. Just as the penalty expired, Adyn Merrick tucked the biscuit past Sioux City goalie Bjorn Bronas’ stick side for a 1-0 lead. Austin Baker picked up the assist.
The Herd extended their lead to 2-0 at 15:50 on Logan Renkowski’s sixth goal of the season on a quick shot from the right faceoff dot.
Just over a minute into the second period, Wright proved he can dish out assists as well as stop pucks. He fed Noah Urness off the glass, and Urness lit the lamp for his 14th tally of the year for a 3-0 lead.
Sioux City finally scored just as a Stampede penalty expired. Justin Stupka scored to narrow the gap to 3-1.
Three more penalties were called in the middle frame including boarding and coinciding roughing penalties. The Stampede challenged the boarding penalty but were unsuccessful and lost their timeout.
The rough play spilled over into the third period. At 3:13, the Herd’s Matthew Grimes was ejected with a five-minute major and game misconduct for slew footing. Both Bryce Ingles and Sioux City’s Trey Jefferies received roughing minors on the play.
Another scrum occurred, sending Joe McGraw and Landen Gunderson to the box for roughing. With just over a minute remaining in the major penalty, the Musketeers’ Nick Sykora potted a goal to bring his club to within one at 3-2.
Sioux City then tied the score at 9:06, then challenged unsuccessfully for a major penalty, losing their timeout.
The Herd thought they had regained the lead at the 14:31 mark, but the goal was disallowed for being batted in with a hand.
The eventual game-winner finally came for the Stampede at 15:59, when Ingles sent a feed to Ben Wilmott, who fired it in for a 4-3 lead.
After the Musketeers’ goalie threw his stick, Sioux Falls was awarded a penalty shot, and Gennadi Chaly didn’t miss, sealing the 5-3 victory.
It was a wild game in more ways than one, and the Herd decisively outshot Sioux City 41-21. The two teams will meet again, this time in Sioux City next Saturday.