SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The Sioux Falls Stampede allowed three goals in the first six minutes of the third period and fell 6-2 to the Omaha Lancers on Hockey Day South Dakota, Saturday night at the PREMIER Center. Clint Levens tallied both goals for the Herd who dropped back-to-back home games on the weekend. Isak Posch took the loss in goal for Sioux Falls, stopping 31 shots on the night. The Herd paid tribute to youth hockey across the state with a special pre-game introduction and games in between periods featuring Sioux Falls Flyers Atoms and Squirts teams.
The Lancers came out and grabbed the first goal of the game at 11:05 when Morgan Winters took the puck inside the left circle and wristed a shot off the glove of Isak Posch and into the net. The Lancers dominated much of the period, outshooting the Herd 11-4.
Sioux Falls got on the board at 3:39 of the second when Clint Levens came out of the penalty box and scored. Out of the box, Levens stole the puck in the slot and charged in front of the goal, faking on the backhand and sliding to the forehand before tucking it under the pads of the Lancers goaltender to tie the game, 1-1. Sioux Falls had a few minutes of energy from that goal, but it would be the Lancers regaining the lead at 9:58 when Cade Ahrenholz batted in a loose puck and tapped the puck into the net for a 2-1 lead. Minutes later the Herd went on the power play, but poor play in the defensive zone led to a turnover when Cam Mitchell took the puck from the corner and sent a pass into the slot for Owen Fowler who one-timed the puck under the crossbar for a 3-1 advantage. Omaha outshot the Herd 19-5 in the period.
The third period did not go any better, as Omaha would score three more times, in the first 6:45 of the period to take a commanding 6-1 lead. Clint Levens would score another goal for the Herd with five minutes left in regulation, but that was as close as the Herd could get, falling 6-2 on Saturday night.
Omaha outshot the Herd 37-15 on the night and went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Herd were 0-for-1.
Sioux Falls closes out the homestand next Friday, January 19th for Summer Night when they host the Tri-City Storm at 7:05 PM. Beach clothes are welcome on this night as we look forward to warmer days. Tickets are on sale now through the PREMIER Center or Ticketmaster.
