Game Five Preview

The Fargo Force have done a nice job (for the most part) of shutting down Green Bay's leading scorer, Anders Lee, in the series.  It's too bad they couldn't shut him down when it mattered most in Game Three as the league's leading scorer found the back of the net twice in the game including the game-tying goal with 49 seconds remaining.  Lee also added an assist in the all important Game Three for the Gamblers.  Those are the only three points the Gamblers' leading scorer has put up in the Clark Cup Finals.  Lee is also a -2 in the series.

Lee's linemates Ryan Furne and Reed Seckel have picked up the slack for the Gamblers to lead the Gamblers in their last two wins.  Ryan Furne was the one that stabbed the Force in the back on Friday night as he netted the game-winner on the power play in 3OT on Friday night.  Reed Seckel has become the team's top scorer in the Clark Cup Finals including two goals and the game-winner that came in the first period of Game Four.  The Force will need to shut down the top line that Green Bay relies so heavily on.

Fargo will look to jump on one of the strongest defensive corps in the USHL led by Makowski, Albers, Czarnowczan and Jensen.  The Force have had more success than most teams in the league but that's not saying much and they will need to score goals and give Force goaltender Ryan Massa a lead to relax with.

As much as Fargo will try to give Ryan Massa the lead and more of an offensive presence so he doesn't have to work as much as he has in the past four games, he will likely be peppered once again and will again be the key to a Force win.

With the absence of two of the Force's leaders and offensive threats in Corey Leivermann and Chase Grant, the Force will need players like Nate Condon, Matt Leitner, Garrett Allen, Colten St. Clair and Johnnie Searfoss to pick up the offense.  Leitner has led the team in scoring in the Clark Cup Finals with one goal and 6 assists, Garrett Allen has scored three goals, Johnnie Searfoss has scored a goal and picked up 2 assists, Colten St. Clair has scored two goals (both in Green Bay) and Nate Condon has been held scoreless in the Clark Cup Finals.

The line of Chad Demers, John Stampohar and Joe Rehkamp have done a great job in the Clark Cup Finals of making things happen and generating some momentum for the Force.  That is what the Force will need out of their 3rd and 4th liners in Game Five.

One more game to win the Clark Cup...get it done Force!

Game 5 is Wednesday in Green Bay.  Live blog will be available here for the game.