Force end season with 4-game losing streak

The Force ended their season exactly how they didn't want to end it, with yet another loss to Green Bay pushing their losing streak to 4 games.  The new 4-game losing streak is the longest losing streak of the year and it couldn't come at a worse time for the Force going into the USHL playoffs.  The Force were able to get some help from Tri-City with their win over Sioux Falls to give Fargo home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs against the Stampede.  Fargo will be the number two seed and Sioux Falls will be the number three seed in the West Division.

Johnnie Searfoss scored the lone goal for the Force tonight on the power play.  Colten St. Clair assisted on the goal.  Jason Goldsmith was the backup tonight and he saw some action stopping 3 shots in just over two minutes in relief of Ryan Massa who gave up 4 goals on 14 shots.

Anyone concerned with the longest losing streak of the season going into the playoffs?  Hopefully they think "fresh start" as the begin the second season (playoffs).  The Force were lucky enough to get some help from Tri-City to get the crucial home ice advantage.  Fargo has been good at home (19-7-4) so getting three games at home will be beneficial.

USHL PLAYOFFS - ROUND 1
Game 1: @ Sioux Falls: Wednesday, April 7: 7:05 PM

Game 2: @ Fargo: Friday, April, 9th: 7:35 PM
Game 3: @ Fargo: Saturday, April 10th: 7:05 PM
Game 4: @ Sioux Falls: Tuesday, April 13th: 7:05 PM, if necessary
Game 5: @ Fargo: Wednesday, April 14th: 7:05 PM, if necessary

Ryan Massa weathers the Storm

Ryan Massa weathered the Storm (pun intended) as the Force beat the Tri-City Storm 5-2 in Kearney, NE tonight.  The Force were outshot 46-26 in the game but got strong goaltending from Ryan Massa and capitalized on some key opportunities in the first and second periods on pace for a victory over the Storm of Tri-City.

In the first period, Oleg Yevenko opened the scoring on a slap shot that found the back of the net 5:16 into the game.  JP Burkemper and Nate Schmidt assisted on the goal.  Less than two minutes later the Force would get an awkward bounce on a shot from Garrett Allen from behind the net that went off Tri-City goalie Carsen Chubak's skate and found the net (Matt Leitner got an assist on the play).  For the third Force goal, Nate Schmidt was able to get a breakaway opportunity coming out of the box after serving a hooking penalty.  Schmidt would capitalize on that opportunity scoring on Chubak and extending the Force lead to 3-0 (Nate Condon with the assist).  Tri-City answered on the power play 18 seconds later with a goal from Kenny Brooks to make it 3-1.  Corey Leivermann would cap off the scoring in the first period on a feed from Chase Grant and Brian Cooper.  The Force took the lead going into the 3rd up 4-1.

The Force would score their second shorthanded goal of the game on a 2 on 1 opportunity between Matt Leitner and Johnnie Searfoss.  Johnnie Searfoss buried the goal assisted by Matt Leitner and Marek Hrbas.

Tri-City would net the only goal in the third period and the Force capped off their weekend with a 5-2 win over the Storm.  Ryan Massa was stellar in net stopping 44 shots for the Force.  Carsen Chubak stopped 21/26 shots for Tri-City.

Leitner lights up Lancers

"Light it up Leitner" was in full force tonight for the St. Patrick's day game between the Fargo Force and the West Division leading Omaha Lancers.  The Force were able to come back from a 3-goal deficit.  Fargo was paced by Matt Leitner with a 5-point night (2 goals, 3 assists) to extend his point streak to 7 games.

The Lancers came out quickly and scored 32 seconds into the game on a goal by Dakota Eveland.  The Lancers  were able to score another goal later in the first on a goal by Ryan Daugherty.  The Lancers took a 2-0 lead into the locker room as the buzzer sounded on the first period.

Seth Ambroz scored early in the second period on a power play to extend the Lancers' lead to 3-0.  Fargo proved once again that they are a resilient team that does not give up on any game with goals by Johnnie Searfoss and Garrett Allen (on the power play) less than two minutes apart.  Matt Leitner assisted on both goals.  Brian Cooper added an assist on the first Force goal and Nate Schmidt added an assist on the power play goal by Allen.  The second period ended with the Force down by one at 3-2.

Ryan Daugherty would get his second goal of the game on the power play for the Lancers early in the third to extend the Lancer lead to two goals at 4-2.  Leitner answered quickly with a goal 1:14 later on the power play for the Force.  Leitner's first goal of the game was assisted by Chase Grant and Nate Schmidt.  Brandon Carlson tied the game 10 minutes later with his first goal in a Force uniform.  Searfoss picked up his second point of the night as he assisted the Carlson goal and Leitner would add his fourth point of the night with his third assist.

Johnnie Searfoss, Nate Condon and Matt Leitner scored in the shootout for the Force and Ryan Massa stopped 3/5 shots in the shootout to lead the Force to the victory.  Matt Leitner was credited with his second goal of the game and fifth point of the night as he netted the game-winner for the Force.  Ryan Massa finished with 26 saves on 30 shots.  Fargo is now 5-0-2 in their last seven games.

Great win for the Force tonight as they were able to come back once again and sweep the Omaha Lancers in the regular season series.  They have had a lot of success against the top team in the West and are now only three points out of first place with a game in hand.  The Force play two more games this weekend against the Lincoln Stars and the Tri-City Storm Friday and Saturday night.

Fargo Force can move into tie for 2nd tonight

The Fargo Force will head to Sioux City today after defeating Sioux Falls in a come from behind overtime win over the 2nd place team in the West Division.  The Force are now only two points out of 2nd in the West Division with last night's win.  Sioux Falls picked up a point last night with the overtime loss.  Fargo can move into a 2nd place tie with the herd with a Sioux Falls regulation loss and a Fargo Force win.

In the last three games, Fargo has been led by captain Chase Grant.  The Force captain has 5 points in 3 games including the game winning goal in last night's game.  He has 3 goals and 2 assists in the three game hot streak.

Johnnie Searfoss did last night what he has been doing all year long.  The Colleyville, TX native has not disappointed Force fans when he has needed to come through in the clutch this year.  Searfoss scored the goal that tied the game with 7:44 remaining against the herd last night.  "Mr. Clutch" has 5 game winning goals this year in 15 Force wins.

Fargo Force sweep Team USA

The Fargo Force swept Team USA over the weekend in a pair of 6-3 wins in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

On Saturday, the Force were led by Garrett Allen, who netted his first USHL hat trick, Matt Leitner, 1 goal, 2 assists and Nate Schmidt, 1 goal, 2 assists.  Cole Gunner also scored for the Force.  Nate Condon, Chad Demers, Grant Scott and Chase Grant eached picked up an assist.

On Sunday, Nate Condon, Johnnie Searfoss and Alex Lippincott each scored a goal and picked up an assist.  Gavin Hartzog picked up two assists.  Colten St. Clair, Oleg Yevenko and Joe Rehkamp each netted goals for Fargo.  Others picking up assists included: Corey Leivermann, Cole Gunner, Grant Scott and Blake Doerring. 

Ryan Holfeld picked up two wins in the sweep over Team USA, stopping 47 of 53 shots in the two games.

Force are back in action this weekend, Friday and Saturday, against the Tri-City Storm.  Enjoy some hockey games the day after Thanksgiving and then Saturday night is the 2nd annual Teddy Bear Toss night. 

Force squeak by Buccaneers

The Fargo Force were able to hold off the Bucs in USHL action tonight as they defeated Des Moines 3-2.  The Force were up 3-0 going into the third period, but Des Moines had a rally in the third off two goals by HT Lenz.  Fargo was led by Garrett Allen (1g, 1a), Matt Leitner (2a) and Johnnie Searfoss (1g, 1a) with two points a piece.  Johnnie Searfoss got the eventual game winner in the second period with assists from Leitner and Allen.  Also scoring for the Force in the first period was Chase Grant, unassisted.  Cody Campbell stopped 18 Des Moines shots.