FARGO, N.D. (KELO.com) — The Sioux Falls Stampede put up a good fight in a close contest against the Fargo Force at Scheels Arena on Friday night, but ultimately fell 5-3. Sam Harris scored a goal and an assist in the loss, his third goal in three games, while Jack Reimann and Max Rud each tallied a goal of their own for the Herd. Stampede netminder Noah Grannan stopped 30 of 34 shots between the pipes.
The Force started scoring off at 2:23 in the first period when a shot by Trevor Griebel at the blue line hit the Sioux Falls netminder and trickled into the net. It was the only goal scored in the period, with the Force outshooting the Stampede 8-6.
Sam Harris tied the game up 1-1 on the power play at 3:31 in the second period when he cleaned up a loose puck in the crease that the Fargo netminder was unable to cover, his 16th goal of the season and third in three games. The tie was short-lived, as Andre Gasseau put the Force back on top at 6:08 for his 21st goal on the year. Fargo outshot Sioux Falls 8-6 in the period.
Max Rud’s rocket of a shot from the left point zipped over the shoulder of Fargo’s netminder on the man advantage to tie the game up once more just 11:25 into the third period, his fourth goal of the season. The contest would remain tied until 13:04 in the period when Tyler Rollwagen put the Force back on top with a power play goal of their own. He would tack on another goal just under three minutes later to give Fargo a 4-2 lead. Jack Reimann would spark some momentum for the Herd when he took the puck on a breakaway shorthanded and backhanded it past the Fargo goaltender. Unfortunately, the Stampede would give up an empty-net goal just thirty seconds later to Rollwagen, completing the hattrick.
Fargo outshot Sioux Falls 19-11 in the final frame and 35-23 in the game. The Stampede went 2-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Tonight is the final game of the season for the Herd when they host the Fargo Force at the PREMIER Center for Take My Jersey Night. The first 500 kids will get a free Stampede t-shirt, and fans will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win one of the Retro Third jerseys that the Herd have been wearing this season. Proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish! Bring your skates, because there will also be a post-game skating party on the ice after play concludes. Tickets are still available on sfstampede.com/tickets. Fans can follow all the action by tuning into KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 105.1-FM, 107.9-FM, and KELO.com, or stream the action on HockeyTV.
