KEARNEY, Neb. – The Sioux Falls Stampede got two goals and an assist from forward Mikey Eyssimont and stepped up its third period defense to defeat the Tri-City Storm 3-2 on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final at the Viaero Event Center, evening the best-of-five series at 1-1.
Tri-City got goals from Mason Appleton and Bobby Nardella in the loss, while forwards Garrett Gamez and Nick Master each had assists on both Storm goals.
Netminder Alec Dillon made 22 saves and took his first loss of the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs. Dillon made numerous high-quality saves on shots in close during the second and third periods, keeping his team in the game.
Despite outshooting Sioux Falls 16-6 in the first, the Storm trailed 1-0 after the opening period on a goal by Troy Loggins. Tri-City also failed to convert on a 55 second 5-on-3 power play advantage in the first half of the period.
The Storm evened the score at 12:32 of the second with a power play goal from Appleton. Gamez got the puck to Appleton with a diving poke check and the Michigan State commit was able to tap it home while Sioux Falls netminder Stefanos Lekkas was out of position.
Appleton now leads all Storm skaters with three playoff goals in the team’s five postseason games.
But the Stampede took control of the game just minutes later when Eyssimont scored twice in just over two minutes. Both goals were assisted by Dakota Joshua and Troy Loggins.
Tri-City cut it to a one-goal game 1:02 after Eyssimont’s second tally when Nardella scored his second playoff goal. Master got the puck back to the defenseman at the left point during a broken play and the Notre Dame commit hammered it past Lekkas.
Neither team was able to score in the third period, in which the Storm outshot Sioux Falls 11-9. Tri-City had the advantage in shots on net 36-25 on the night, with Lekkas making 34 saves to earn the win for the Stampede.
Game 2 was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday, but was postponed to Wednesday due to an ice issue.
The series now shifts to Sioux Falls for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday this weekend. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Matthew Freytag and Nolan Aibel, along with defenseman Jason Krych…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins (Mikey Eyssimont, Dillon Eichstadt) 17:47
2nd Period
Tri-City – Mason Appleton (power play) (Garrett Gamez, Nick Master) 12:32
Sioux Falls – Mikey Eyssimont (Dakota Joshua, Troy Loggins) 15:10
Sioux Falls – Mikey Eyssimont (Dakota Joshua, Troy Loggins) 17:22
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella (Nick Master, Garrett Gamez) 18:24
3rd Period
(no scoring)
PENALTIES
1st Period
Sioux Falls – Dillon Eichstadt – (Hooking), 2 min, 5:58
Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 6:31
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 6:31
Sioux Falls – Logan O’Connor – (Hooking), 2 min, 7:04
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:57
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:57
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Kneeing), 2 min, 19:57
2nd Period
Sioux Falls – Daniel Warpecha – (Tripping), 2 min, 3:32
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Roughing), 2 min, 6:02
Sioux Falls – Matt Nuttle – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 11:42
Sioux Falls – Mikey Eyssimont (Roughing), 2 min, 11:42
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:42
Tri-City – Vince Pedrie – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 18:24
3rd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 4:29
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:59
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 19:59
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct), 10 min, 19:59
Power Play
Sioux Falls – 0/4
Tri-City – 1/4
Shots
Sioux Falls: 6, 10, 9 = Total: 25
Tri-City: 16, 9, 11 = Total: 36
Saves
Sioux Falls – Stefanos Lekkas – 34/36
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 22/25