FARGO, N.D. (KELO.com) — The Stampede took two big points out of Fargo on Saturday night with a 3-2 victory over the Fargo Force at Scheels Arena. Ryan Healey and Clint Levens each tallied a goal while Daniel Russell had both a goal and an assist. Sioux Falls goaltender Noah Grannan made 36 saves in net.
The Stampede didn’t get off to as strong of a start tonight as they did last night, outshot 11-1 by the Force after a scoreless first period. They picked up the pace in the second, with Clint Levens notching his seventh goal of the season just 1:13 into the period, wristing the puck under the stick of the Fargo netminder on just the second shot of the game for the Herd. That would make it six straight games in which the Stampede have tallied the first goal of the night. Daniel Russell added to the Stampede’s lead at 14:08, knocking in a rebound in front of the net for his 15th of the year. Sioux Falls was outshot by Fargo 10-9 in the period.
Fargo’s German Yavash found the back of the net at 3:24 in the third period, bringing them within one. The Stampede would answer back less than a minute later, as Ryan Healey split the defense from the blue line before taking a shot toward the net that bounced off a Fargo stick and found its way into the net for his third goal of the year. Fargo would come within one goal again at 8:33 in the period after a tally by Andre Gasseau, but the Stampede would hold off their rally to keep the score 3-2.
Fargo outshot Sioux Falls 17-4 in the third period and 28-14 in the game. The Stampede went 0-for-2 on the power play while the Force were 0-for-3.
Picking up two points in the standings, the Herd move to seventh place in the Western Conference, 11 points behind the sixth place Fargo Force.
This is the second of a three-game weekend series against Fargo, with the third match this afternoon at the PREMIER Center with a 4:05 PM puck drop. Bring your skates, because there will be a post-game skating party on the ice following play! They will then play Wednesday night, hosting the Omaha Lancers at 7:05 PM. Tickets are still available at sfstampede.com/tickets. Fans can tune into KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 105.1-FM, 107.9-FM, and KELO.com, or stream the action on HockeyTV.
