(KNFL/KFGO) – It was Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals as the Fargo Force would start a best-of-5 series with the Sioux Falls Stampede in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Force recently won in 4 games in the Conference Semis against the Sioux City Musketeers, while Sioux Falls overcame a 2-1 series deficit to beat the Lincoln Stars in 5 games. Fargo was coming in as the 2 seed in the Western Conference, while Sioux Falls came in as the top seed in the West. In the regular season, the Fargo Force went 6-2-0-0 against Sioux Falls, but the Stampede would get out to a hot start offensively.
3:57 seconds into the opening period, Brent Solomon would net the game’s first goal, being assisted by Joey Macrina. Exactly 4 minutes later, at the 7:57 mark, J.J. Monteiro would score an unassisted goal to make it 2-0 Sioux Falls. But the Stampede were not done just yet. Sioux Falls would get a powerplay after a hooking penalty on Fargo’s Nate Delladonna at the 7:34 mark of the 1st. Then, Jake Prunty would score a powerplay goal while being assisted by Brock Schultz, and Ryder Betzold, at the 8:27 mark of the 1st. Another powerplay would ensue at the 12:28 mark of the 1st, as Fargo’s Kolin Sisson would get called for a high sticking penalty. Brock Schultz would net the 2nd straight powerplay goal for Sioux Falls to make it 4-0 after 1. Tobias Öhman, and Jake Prunty would be given assists. In the 2nd, Anthony Bongo made it 5-0 at the 15:19 mark, while being assisted by J.J. Monteiro, and Matthew Grimes. Fargo would get on the board thanks to a Mason West goal at the 19:00 mark of the 2nd period. Gavin Uhlenkamp, and Luke McNamara would get assists. With it being a 5-1 game after 2 periods, Fargo was looking to chip away, as they got another goal. It came at the 7:05 mark of the 3rd period, as Saxton Tess scored a shorthanded, unassisted goal. Sioux Falls, however, would get one more for good measure at the 12:48 mark of the 3rd, as JJ Monteiro would score the game’s final goal, while being assisted by Thomas Zocco. The Stampede would take Game 1 by a final of 6-2, as they take a 1-0 series lead.
Sioux Falls would get 43 shots on Fargo goalie, Ajay White, who stopped 37 of those shots. Fargo would get 24 shots on net. Sioux Falls goaltender, Linards Feldbergs, would stop 22 Fargo shots. Sioux Falls would have 4 individual skaters score a goal, including JJ Monteiro, who would lead the team in total points tonight, scoring 2 goals, and getting 1 assist. The Fargo Force would go 0/6 on the powerplay in this loss.
Game 2 is tomorrow evening in Sioux Falls, with the puck drop at 6:05 PM.
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