Fargo takes series lead 1-0

What four game losing streak?  The Fargo Force proved that they weren't too worried about a 4-game losing streak to end the season as they were able to defeat the Sioux Falls Stampede in game one of the opening round of the USHL playoffs by the score of 5-1.

The Force used a strong opening period with three first period goals.  Corey Leivermann opened the scoring with an assist to Brian Cooper.  Garrett Allen scored a shorthanded goal on a stretch pass from Fargo Force scoring leader, Matt Leitner.  Brian Cooper also added his second assist of the game on the play.  Leitner would add on to his scoring lead with a power play goal to give the Force a 3-0 lead with 1:10 left in the first.  Chase Grant fed Leitner for the goal and Allen added an assist for his second point of the night.

The game cooled down in the second period as neither team could get one by the goaltenders and the score remained 3-0 despite four power plays for the Force and one for the Herd.  Fargo peppered Sioux Falls' goalie Clay Witt with 15 shots in the second period.

Joe Rehkamp opened the scoring for the Force in the final stanza with an assist from Alex Lippincott killing any momentum Sioux Falls could have built to make a third period push.  Sioux Falls pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker and it proved to be a good move by Coach Hartzell as a Jacob Johnstone snipe would make it 4-1 with 3:10 remaining.  The Herd would get a power play toward with 1:31 remaining and kept Witt pulled to give them a two man advantage.  Fargo would win the faceoff and Leitner would bury his 2nd goal of the game to seal the deal for the Force by a score of 5-1.  Ryan Massa stopped 28/29 shots in his USHL playoff debut.

Wondering why there is a blue mohawk on the blog?

Well...come on...it's the playoffs!  See you at the UP Center on Friday!