SIOUX FALLS, SD -- A rough first period put the Sioux Falls Stampede in a hole they couldn’t dig out of, as their six-game winning streak was snapped by the Sioux City Musketeers in a 5-1 loss at the Arena Saturday night in front of 4,261 fans.  Netminder Art Brey let in two goals on 16 shots for the Herd (16-6-2) in relief of David Jacobson, who came out of the game late in the first period of Toss Your Teddy Bear Night at the Arena.

“We just came out really slow,” said team captain Dennis Kravchenko.  “We need 60 minutes every game.  We didn’t have that and that’s why we lost.”

The loss dropped the Herd to six points behind the Western Conference-leading Omaha Lancers and follows a red-hot month of November, where the Herd went 9-1-1.

“I thought Sioux City played a heck of a road game,” said head coach Cary Eades. “They had good goaltending, they checked well and they built a lead.”

Sioux City seized an early 1-0 lead 5:49 into the opening period when winger Dylan Plitt snuck the puck past a sprawling Jacobson from behind the net on the right side.  Two more goals within: 59 of each other tripled the Musketeer lead, starting with a breakaway goal from Nikolas Olsson with 4:03 to go before intermission. A Stampede penalty 47 seconds later allowed Sioux City allowed the Musketeers to take a 3-0 cushion into the locker room on a power play nasty wrist shot by Blake Heinrich.  The goal would be the end of the night for Jacobson, with Brey taking netminding duties following the score.

“You don’t have much of chance to come back in this league with a three-goal deficit,” said Eades.

The contest stayed 3-0 Sioux City through the second period, with both teams whiffing on lone power play chances.  Sioux Falls’ defense appeared to come out much more composed on defense, only permitting four shots on Brey in the period.

Two more goals in the final period all but clinched the victory for the Musketeers, who had not beaten the Herd in two prior meetings this season.  A goal by Conner Valesano prevented a Musketeer shutout but didn’t lessen the impact of a rough night at the Arena, only the third loss in regulation at home for the Herd. Sioux Falls finished the night 0-for-3 on the man advantage, while their I-29 rivals from down south ended the evening 1-for-3.

The Stampede will return to the Arena next Friday to face the Lincoln Stars at 7:05 pm.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede

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