DES MOINES, IA (KELO.com) –The Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Club fell, 3-2, to the Des Moines Buccaneers during Saturday night’s away matchup. The Buccaneers rebranded to be the Barkaneers for their first annual Wiener Dog night, flipping the script from the Stampede’s February 4th, 3-2 overtime win as the Fighting Wiener Dogs.
The first period was almost uneventful as both teams struggled to get on the scoreboard. The Buccaneers were able to find the back of Jackson Irving’s net with just two second left in the period, going up 1-0 heading into the first intermission. The penalty box also lacked residents for most of the period, with just matching two-minute minors on the Stampede’s Jack Phelan and Buccaneers’ Owen West and a mid-period hooking call on Jaksen Panzer.
In the second period, scoring was split between the two clubs with Sioux Falls scoring first. Chris Pelosi was able to net the Herd’s first goal of the night just 3:43 into the period off of assists from Isaac Gordon and Adam Zlnka. Pelosi’s ninth goal of the season tallied Gordon and Zlnka their 12th and 13th assists, respectively. Former Stampede forward turned Buccaneer, Jack Reimann, netted the Buccaneers’ second goal of the night almost halfway through the period.
The third period’s scoreboard was all blue and gold with Nick Ring scoring the Herd’s second goal and tying the game at the 5:03 mark. Ring’s 12th goal of the season was assisted by Sam Harris, marking Harris’ 23rd assist this season. The Herd’s second goal, along with a wall of saves from Irving, brought the game into extra overtime minutes.
Overtime was cut short with a Buccaneer goal 40 seconds into the three-on-three competition. Michael Bevilacqua managed the Buccaneers’ third goal, ending the sudden death overtime and giving the Barkaneers their first Wiener Dog Night win.
Jackson Irving’s goaltending efforts added 27 saves to his record card, with the Massachusetts native now sitting with 513 saves this season. His three goals against tallied Irving a .900 save percentage and moved his season save percentage to .888. Irving now holds a 3-8-4 record between the pipes for the Stampede.
The Herd now travels back to Sioux Falls for a Sunday night matchup against the Tri-City Storm. Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Night, the Stampede will be partnering with Fight Like a Ninja and Two Men and A Truck to shed a light on mental health and suicide prevention during the 4:05 p.m. puck drop.
