MUSKEGON, MI -- The Sioux Falls Stampede got third period goals from Michael Buonincontri and Zeb Knutson and once again rallied from a third period deficit to defeat the Muskegon Lumberjacks 2-1 Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena.

The win improved the Stampede’s record to 6-2-0 and kept them in first place in the Western Conference. The Herd have come-from-behind in all six victories. David Jacobson stopped 22 shots to earn his fourth win of the season.

After a scoreless first period, the Stampede started the second period having to kill off a penalty, but did so successfully, only to go right back into the box seconds later and this time the Lumberjacks would take advantage. Janik Moeser shot was blocked by the defense in the slot, but Matt Iacopelli picked up a bouncing puck and shot it through traffic and under the pads of Jacobson to give the Jacks a 1-0 advantage. The Herd would get two power play advantages of their own in the period, but couldn’t get the right bounce and came up empty both times. The Herd outshot Muskegon 10 to 7 in the period and 18 to 13 through the first two periods.

The Stampede started the third period by clanking two shots off the crossbar and it appeared it might not be their night, but once again the comeback boys found a way to get on the board. Keith Burchett and Tony Calderone found Buonincontri open in the slot at 5:27 and Buonincontri blasted a shot through traffic and past Muskegon goaltender Jordan Uhelski to tie the game 1-1. Just over two minutes later the Stampede took their first lead of the night when Dennis Kravchenko intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and fed the puck up the right wing boards to Knutson who raced down the right side and inside the right wing circle where he wristed a shot into the upper left hand corner of the net to take a 2-1 lead. The goal was his league leading 10th of the season.

The Lumberjacks tried to rally late in the period and even had a two minute powerplay with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, but the Stampede killed it off and held on for the victory.

Sioux Falls outshot Muskegon 30 to 23 on the night and finished 0-for-5 while the Lumberjacks were 1-for-4. The Herd and Jacks will face off again in the second game of the weekend series Saturday night.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede

 

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