The Swan Valley Stampeders snapped a three-game losing skid with a come from behind, 5-4 shootout win over the Neepawa Titans Sunday night at the Yellowhead Centre.
The Stampeder offence was led by Thompson product Jamie Valentino who scored twice while adding an assist and later scored in the shootout. Cody Barnes and Quinn Mulder each scored a goal apiece while Kobe Grant picked up his very first MJHL win Sunday night, stopping 22/26 shots he faced, plus two more shooters in the shootout.
Neepawa Titans came to play in the opening ten minutes of tonight’s contest, scoring two goals four minutes apart. Jaeger Lapointe gave the Titans a 1-0 lead 4:48 into the game, deflecting home his fourth of the season. Mitch Thiessen was gifted the game’s second goal as a loose puck was swatted between Kobe Grant’s legs at the side of the net, leaving the goal wide open for his second of the year at 8:20. Swan Valley found themselves in penalty trouble early on, taking two consecutive penalties and giving Neepawa an extended 5-on-3. The PK came through and killed off both, which gave the Stampeders a bit of life but couldn’t solve Demers in the Titans net.
Swan Valley was finally able to solve Emerick Demers as Jamie Valentino swatted home a loose puck in the goal crease, pulling the Stampeders within one at 4:48 of the second period. Quinn Mulder collected his first of the year, pushing home the game-tying marker on the power play six minutes later. Neepawa gained a four-minute power play three minutes later and would make the Stampeders pay as Mitch Thiessen collected his second of the night at 11:02.
It was nearly all Swan Valley in the third period as Cody Barnes deposited his sixth of the year into a wide-open net on the power play at 5:15. Jamie Valentino collected his second of the game, and sixth of the year, scoring a beautiful short-handed goal to give the Stampeder their first lead of the contest at 11:33 of the third period. Neepawa would tie the game 4-4 with 4:58 left in the game forcing a second overtime period in as many games.
Both teams traded several chances throughout the 3-on-3 overtime period but both Emerick Demers and Kobe Grant shut the door sending both teams to a second straight shootout.
Shootout results below
Cameron Trimble – No
Jamie Valentino – Scores
Jaeger Lapointe – No
Jacob Palor-Chow – No
Rylan Gudnason – It says yes (believe it was a cross-bar)
Brad Fortin – Game Winner
Final Shots
Swan Valley – 25
Neepawa – 26
The Stampeders have regained their traction in the West Division standings, leapfrogging the OCN Blizzard, Neepawa Titans and the Virden Oil Capitals to sit third overall.
The Stampeders will return home and get ready to return to Neepawa Friday, Oct. 22 when they travel south once again for a matchup with the same Titans. The puck drop is set for 7:30 pm.
The next action for Swan Valley at home will be Saturday, Oct. 23 in their final matchup in a four-game mini-series on home ice. This is the Swan Valley Consumers Co-op Fan Appreciation game featuring a social media takeover throughout the day and goodies to be handed out during the first intermission. Be sure to find us on all social media platforms and follow along.
Tickets for our next home game can be purchased online at stampedershockey.com, at Patty’s Sports Excellence or at the door. Also, make sure to purchase your online 50/50 tickets for our next home game Saturday, Oct. 23. You can purchase your tickets by following the link provided here https://www.fundingchange.ca/svstampeders/YWWx_WWcbUSuF4jE