USHL hockey: Power finds stride, claims Anderson Cup in sweep over Sioux Falls – InForum

FARGO If the Fargo Force can shake off their recent funk and make some noise in the upcoming USHL playoffs, their regular season home finale on Friday could be remembered as the game where they found their stride again.

The Force started strong, with three goals in the first period, and they finished the same way, scoring three more in the third and blanking Sioux Falls 7-1 to claim the Anderson Cup as the USHL’s best regular season team before 4,546. from the Scheels Center.

The Force have the best record in the USHL and looked to be on their way to the league playoffs with four straight wins in March.

But after that, the team went 3-9 going into Friday’s game with two overtimes and one shootout. The Force lost five in a row at one point and dropped their last three before Friday’s win.

David Samson/The Forum

It took a while on Friday, but Force finally got it rolling. Bret Link scored at 17:01 of the first period on assists from Cole Knuble and Mac Swanson, and Verner Miettinen scored 41 seconds later on assists from Jacob Napier and Joe Palodichuk. Girts Silkalns made it 3-0 with 58 seconds left in the game on assists from Owen Mehlenbacher and Brasen Boser.

Zam Plante put the Force up 4-0 at 14:42 of the second period on assists from JP Turner and Boris Skalos, and Swanson made it 5-0 1:21 into the third on an assist from Kyle Smolen. .

David Samson / Forum Communications Co.

Anthony Menghini scored at 4:13 of the third on assists from Marian Mosko and Smolen, and Link had another unassisted play at 4:30 of the third.

The Stampede finally broke through on a Tyler Borgula power play goal at 17:26 and had plenty of chances to stay in the game, outscoring the Force 38-37. But Fargo killed seven of the Stampede’s eight power plays and Force goaltender Matej Marinov stopped 37 shots.

The Force and Stampede conclude the regular season at 6:05 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

David Samson/The Forum

David Samson/The Forum

David Samson/The Forum

David Samson/The Forum

David Samson/The Forum

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