Force Mount Comeback in Sioux City
October 14, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Fargo Force News Release
The Force came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the defending Clark Cup Champions, the Sioux City Musketeers in an exciting overtime on Friday night in Iowa.
Fargo peppered the Sioux City netminder with shots in the first few minutes of the game, but it was the Musketeers who scored the first two goals of the game. Sioux City added their first tally of the night on the man advantage after the Force were sent to the box for slashing. Ryan Conmy found himself with wide open shot from the slot off a pass from Sam Deckhut putting the Musketeers up 1-0 at 7:14 in the first. Just over two minutes later Ben Doan added Sioux City’s second goal, this time while the Muskies were shorthanded. The Force had some solid looks at the net, but the first period ended 2-0 in favor of the Musketeers.
True to form the Force battled right back in the second, showing no quit in their game, and scoring three consecutive goals in the middle frame.
JP Turner struck first for the Force at 6:03 in the second, walking through the middle of the offensive zone firing a shot off of a Sioux City defender, right over the head of the goaltender Alex Mangbo and into the back of the net.
The tying Force goal was scored by Charlie Russell right on the doorstep, finishing off a beautiful cross-crease feed from Cole Knuble evening the score at 2-2 with 11:26 to go in the middle frame.
With just over 6 minutes remaining Mac Swanson tallied his first ever USHL goal, making a beautiful spin move in front of the Musketeers goaltender and firing under the right arm giving the Force their first lead of the night. Leo Gruba and Bret Link both notched assists on Swanson’s go-ahead goal.
The Musketeers evened things up with 1:52 left in the second, and the teams headed into the locker room tied at 3 apiece.
Fargo and Sioux City exchanged dangerous chances back and forth in the third period, but neither could capitalize, sending the teams into a 3v3 overtime.
The Force and Musketeers both held possession for extended periods of time in the 3-on-3 period, with both netminders making big saves to keep their teams in the game. With under 10 seconds on the clock, Bret Link cleaned up a rebound and found Joe Palodichuk who got wheels and beat out his defender, sending Link’s feed right through the stick side of the Sioux City netminder and securing the 4-3 OT win for the Force with just 3.2 seconds remaining.
The Force head to Sioux Falls tomorrow night for a 6:05PM contest against the Stampede. Tomorrow night’s game will be streamed via FloHockey and you can tune in on the radio via 101.9 JACK FM, The Official Home of the Fargo Force!
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