Drop That Puck: Stampede Open Preseason With 3-2 OT Win In Omaha

RALSTON, NE -- Veteran forward Dakota Joshua tallied a power play goal with 1:57 remaining in overtime to lift the Sioux Falls Stampede to a 3-2 victory over the Omaha Lancers Tuesday night at Ralston Arena in the first preseason game of the year.

Joshua, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, also tallied an assist on the tying goal in the third period for Sioux Falls who improved to 1-0-0 in preseason play.

All three Stampede goals came on the power play for Sioux Falls who rallied from a 2-1 third period deficit to earn the victory. Art Brey stopped 16 of 18 shots to earn the win in goal for Sioux Falls who outshot the Lancers 32-19 on the night.

The Herd grabbed the first lead of the game when Bryan Sienerth scored at 10:36 on the powerplay with assists from Lukas Butcha and Dillon Eichstadt. It remained 1-0 Sioux Falls until the final 23 seconds when Omaha’s Steven Spinner scored on a breakaway to tie the game 1-1 at the end of one period. Sioux Falls outshot Omaha 10-7 in the opening period.

Omaha grabbed the lead at 7:42 of the second period when Spinner cashed in on a power play opportunity that beat Brey. That would prove to be the only goal of the period and the Lancers would take that 2-1 lead into the locker room despite being outshot 10-5 in the period.

Sioux Falls would waste little time tying the game in the third as Joey Marooney tallied a power play goal to knot the game up at two off a wrist shot from the slot. Joshua and Troy Loggins earned assists on the goal which would be the only one of the period and eventually force overtime. Sioux Falls outshot Omaha 11-4 in the period.

In overtime, the Lancers would outshoot the Herd 3-1, but the Stampede made the most of their shot as Joshua would be pick up a loose puck in front of the net and put it away to lift the Herd to a 3-2 overtime win. Tyler Nanne earned the lone assist on the goal that gave the Herd their first win of any kind in Ralston.

The two teams combined for 23 penalties for 68 minutes.

The Herd continue preseason play this Saturday when they travel up I-29 to Fargo to face the Force at 7:05 PM.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede