Stampede logo.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) –An early goal got the Stampede off on the right foot, but it would be all the offense they could muster as the Herd fell 4-1 to the Omaha Lancers Saturday night at the PREMIER Center. Blake Humphrey tallied the only goal while Isak Posch stopped 26 of 30 shots. The win was the Lancers fourth in a row while the Herd fell for the fourth straight time after winning three straight.
The Stampede wanted to get off to a good start and they would do just that when Blake Humphrey tallied his fourth goal of the season just 3:04 into the hockey game. Humphrey took a pass up the left-wing wall and blasted as shot under the crossbar to give Sioux Falls a 1-0 lead. The celebration would be short lived though as the Lancers responded just 54 seconds later. The Herd turned the puck over on a bad pass in front of their own net and into the hands of Alex Bump who quickly wristed the puck into the net to tie the game at one. Both teams would exchange some chances during the rest of the period, but it remained tied after one with Omaha outshooting the Herd 9-5.
Sioux Falls got a power play in the second, but it would be the Lancers taking advantage. Owen Fowler and Matt Romer teamed up to steal the puck in the neutral zone and broke in on a 2-on-0 when Romer easily tapped the puck in to give the Lancers the lead. It looked as though the Herd might escape down just one, but once again a late goal would haunt the Herd. Sioux Falls was unable to clear the puck in front of their own net and Owen Fowler picked up the puck in the slot and wristed a shot that beat Stampede goaltender Isak Posch to make it a 3-1 game. Omaha would take that lead into the locker room, outshooting the Herd 14-4 in the period.
The Herd had Cotton Eyed Joe up and dancing to start the third, but even his presence wouldn’t give the Stampede the boost they needed. Omaha extended their lead to three when Tanner Rowe snuck in backdoor and tipped the puck into the back of the net for a 4-1 advantage at 13:07. It appeared the Stampede would pull back within two when Clint Levens weaved his way through traffic and backhanded a shot that was stopped but then put in by Jack Reimann, but the goal was waved off because Levens ran into the Omaha goaltender.
Sioux Falls outshot the Lancers 9-7 in the third, but Omaha outshot the Stampede 30-18 on the night. The Herd were perfect on the penalty kill (3-for-3), but went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
The Herd return to action next Friday and Saturday when they host Sioux City and Fargo. Friday night is Wheelco night while Saturday is Military Appreciation Night, presented by Royal River Casino & Hotel. Veterans and active military members can receive free tickets to the game by contacting the Stampede office. Tickets for both games are on sale through the KELOLAND Box Office or through Ticketmaster.
