RALSTON, NE (KELO.com) — The Sioux Falls Stampede played three players short due to injuries and gave it all they had, but came up short in a 5-3 loss to the Omaha Lancers Saturday night. Dan Russell scored twice for the Stampede who scored the first goal of the game and then rallied from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits, but couldn’t tie it up in the third before the Lancers added an empty netter to seal the game. JP Turner tallied the other goal for the Herd while Noah Grannan stopped 27 shots in between the pipes.
A night after a disastrous first period sunk the Stampede, Sioux Falls came out strong and got the first goal of the game just 4:18 in. Maddox Fleming took the puck behind the Lancers net and sent a perfect pass into the slot for Dan Rusell who quickly wristed it over the pads of Thomas Heaney for a 1-0 lead. The Lancers would respond at 10:43 when Luke Strickland’s shot was stopped by Noah Grannan, but Stricklan followed up and knocked home the rebound to make it 1-1.
The Lancers would then take the lead at 15:12 when Cam Mitchell’s shot hit the goal post, but bounced back in front of the net to a wide-open Garrett Wright who tapped home the loose puck for a 2-1 lead. Omaha outshot the Herd 8-2 in the first frame.
The second period was entertaining for fans as well. The Herd tied the game just 1:49 in when Russell tallied his second of the night. Merril Steenari sent a pass into the right circle for Russell who quickly wristed a shot under the stick of Heaney to make it a 2-2 game. Minutes later the Lancers would go on the power play and they would cash in at 5:46 when Matt Basgall blasted a shot from the high slot, under the crossbar and into the net for a 3-2 lead.
Sioux Falls would respond at 15:05 when Jack Reimann raced down the left-wing boards in the Lancers zone and fired a shot on net that was stopped, but the rebound bounced in front where JP Turner grabbed it and tucked it under the pads of Heaney to tie the game, 3-3. Omaha outshot the Herd 13-4 in the period.
The Lancers would once again take the lead back in the third when Jared Wright would strike on the power play at 8:20. Michael Cameron sent a pass in front of the net to Wright who faked to his left and went to his right before tucking the puck under Grannan for a 4-3 Omaha advantage. The Herd would get a couple power play chances in the period, but could not convert and then got into penalty trouble late that they were able to kill off, but it killed time off the clock and left the Stampede with just over two minutes left to try and tie the game. They would pull Grannan for an extra attacker, but the Lancers would score off a face-off with 40 seconds remaining to seal a 5-3 victory.
Omaha outshot the Stampede 11-7 and 32-13 on the night while going 2-for-6 on the power play. Sioux Falls finished 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
The Stampede return to action Friday when they travel to Sioux City to face the rival Musketeers at 7:05 PM. Fans can catch the game live on KELO News Talk 1320-AM, 105.1-FM, 107.9-FM and KELO.com or watch on HockeyTV.
