Stampede Fall In Final Game Of Fall Classic

SIOUX CITY, IA -- The Sioux Falls Stampede rallied from a two goal deficit in the third period only to see Sioux City score with 2:43 left and fell 5-4 in the final day of the USHL Fall Classic West.

Veterans C.J. Franklin and Zeb Knutson had two goals and an assist each while David Jacobson stopped all 18 shots he faced. Shane Starrett stopped 11 of 16 shots in the second half of the game. The Stampede finished the pre-season with a 3-2-0 record and will have a week off before opening the regular season next Saturday at Des Moines.

Sioux Falls grabbed the first goal of the game 7:19 when Franklin scored. Dennis Kravchenko won an offensive zone faceoff and sent it back to the top of the right circle where Franklin wristed a shot past Sioux City goaltender Connor Girard. The Herd controlled much of the play for the rest of the period, but Sioux City outshot Sioux Falls 9-7.

The Herd added to their lead 8:39 into the second period when Knutson scored on the powerplay. Franklin took the puck behind the Musketeers net and sent into the left circle where Knutson wristed a shot through the five-hole of Girard to make it a 2-0 game. Minutes later, Sioux Falls was awarded a 5-on-3 powerplay for two minutes, but the Musketeers shutdown the Herd offense and stole the momentum. Nikolas Olsson got the Musketeers on the board at 15:03 of the period when he one-timed a pass in front of the net from Dylan Pitt, past the glove side of Starrett. It was the Musketeers first goal of the classic who were blanked 2-0 the night before against Waterloo. Just over two minutes later Pitt scored a goal of his own when his wrister from the right circle got past Starrett to make it a 2-2 game at the end of two periods. Sioux City outshot the Stampede, 15-12 in the faster paced second period.

The Stampede came out flying in the third period, but couldn’t get the puck to bounce in the net. Sioux City would take their first lead of the night 4:37 into the period when Jared Thomas fed Avery Peterson inside the right circle and Peterson ripped a shot past Starrett to give the Musketeers a 3-2 advantage.  The goal came on the power play for the Muskies. Minutes later, they extended their lead with their fourth unanswered goal.

The Stampede cut the lead in half with 7:22 when Knutson scored his second of the night. Kravchenko took the puck down the right wing boards and dropped it in the slot to Knutson who blasted a shot past Girard to make it a 4-3 game. Minutes later, Sioux Falls went on the powerplay and the Stampede converted on a goal from Franklin. Knutson blasted a shot from the left circle that was stopped by Girard, but Franklin was there and put away the rebound to tie the game, 4-4. Sioux City would regain the lead however, with 2:43 left when Austin Adduono fired a shot that was stopped by Starrett, but picked up the rebound, spun around and wristed a shot into the back of the net to give the Musketeers a 5-4 edge. The Herd pulled Starrett in the final minute, but came up short in the game.

Both teams played a five minute 3-on-3 sudden death overtime. It was done at all USHL Fall Classic games this year as part of an experiment. Neither team would end up scoring in the extra session and the game ended 5-4.

Both teams finished with 34 shots on goal and the Stampede went 2-for-5 on the power play while Sioux City was 1-for-7.

Sioux Falls opens regular season play next Saturday in Des Moines against the Buccaneers.  The Herd’s home opener is October 4th against Omaha at the Sioux Falls Arena.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede