Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Sioux Falls Stampede will travel to Lincoln, N.E., to take on the Stars in their only game this weekend following the Fall Classic.
At last week's Fall Classic, the Stampede split their games, returning to Sioux Falls with two points after two special-teams-heavy contests. On Thursday afternoon, the team fell 5-1 to the Chicago Steel after giving up five unanswered goals. Both teams had two power plays in the first period, but neither converted. The Herd's
Logan Renkowski opened the scoring with a tip-in off a
Cooper Soller one-timer. Before the end of the period, the Steel tied the game with a goal from defenseman Miles Burgin.
In the third period, the game got away from the Stampede, who surrendered four goals. Just 1:52 into the frame, the Steel took their first lead of the game. They quickly followed with two more goals in under two minutes, then nearly sealed the Stampede's fate with a power-play tally at 11:58. Unable to find the back of the net again, Sioux Falls dropped their first regular-season game 5-1.
The Herd appeared headed for a similar fate in game two against the Green Bay Gamblers, trailing by two goals entering the third period. After a scoreless first period, Green Bay struck first on a power play, then added a short-handed breakaway goal. To start the third, Sioux Falls went on a 5-on-3 power play after Landon Hafele was assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind. A
Joe McGraw penalty shortened the advantage, and the Herd's power play unit came up empty.
Their breakthrough came at 9:41, when the Gamblers were hit with another major penalty for fighting. At 11:45,
Ryder Betzold buried a one-timer on the power play to cut the deficit in half. Co-captain J.J. Monteiro tied the game at 17:27 with his first goal of the season. After a scoreless overtime, the contest went to a shootout.
Joey Macrina and
Brent Solomon scored, while goaltender
Linards Feldbergs held the Gamblers to a single tally, giving Sioux Falls their first win of the season.
The Lincoln Stars had a different outcome at the Fall Classic, losing both of their games. On Saturday, the Stars dropped a 3-2 decision to the Madison Capitols. After a scoreless opening frame, Madison struck first, only for Lincoln to answer shortly after. A late-period goal gave the Capitols the lead back, and they extended it with a power-play goal at 8:59 of the third. The Stars managed one more but couldn't overcome the deficit, getting outshot 31-18.
On Sunday, Lincoln fell 7-3 to the U.S. National Team Development Program U-18s. The NTDP opened the scoring at 5:01 on the power play. Lincoln responded a few minutes later, but three quick goals by the NTDP tilted momentum. With 33 seconds left in the first, the Stars cut the deficit to two. In the second period, the U-18s struck twice in 24 seconds to make it 6-2. Each team added one in the third for the 7-3 final.
The Stampede and Stars will meet for the first time this season after battling for the top spot in the Western Conference last year. Sioux Falls won the season series 4-2, including a sweep in Lincoln and a victory at home. The Stars did edge the Herd 2-1 on February 21 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center for their final matchup of the season. Sioux Falls will now look to build on their shootout win in one of the league's toughest buildings.
Next week, the Stampede travel south to face I-29 rival Sioux City Musketeers in their home opener at the Tyson Events Center. The Herd then opens their home schedule on Saturday, October 4. Pregame festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Birdcage with a tailgate. Doors open at 4:45 p.m., and the first 1,000 kids will receive a replica jersey. Face painting, a photo booth, and Chuck-a-Pucks will be available. After the game, fans are invited to skate with the Herd on the PREMIER Center ice. Get your tickets
here.
