The Swan Valley Stampeders travelled to Neepawa tonight to take on the Natives. The 13-15-3 Stamps were looking to get back in the win column after a loss on home ice to Selkirk Friday night.
The Stampeders found themselves trailing just 2:36 into the opening frame as Breaden Binda picked up his 10th of the season. The Stamps came alive on the power play when Keaton Jameson beat Jake MacLennan upstairs to tie the game at 1. The Stamps kept pressuring and once again the hard work paid off. Derek Frater fed Noah Basarab from behind the net and beat MacLennan glove side at 16:14. Shane Roulette added to the lead on a spin around shot that handcuffed the Natives goalie at 18:16. The Stamps led 3-1 heading into the 1st intermission. Shots at the end of the opening frame were 17-14 for Swan.
The Neepawa Natives were all over the Stampeders to start the 2nd. Griffin Chwaliboga beat Evans at 2:59 to pull them within 1. Justin Metcalf picked up his 20th of the season just 17 seconds later to tie the game at 3. The Natives Zak Smith scored the go ahead goal at the 5:00 mark. The middle frame came to a close with Neepawa leading 4-3 and the shots 31-27 in favour of Neepawa.
The 3rd period was back and forth action as the Stamps upped the tempo to try and find a equalizer. Josh Tripp finally beat MacLennan upstairs on a 2 on 1. Tripp’s short handed game tying goal came at 15:38 and sent the game into OT.
OT started with the Stampeders all over Neepawa in their zone but couldn’t find the game winner. Neepawa regained possession and it was Griffin Chwaliboga getting his 2nd of the night as he let a shot go that beat Evans at 3:03. Final shots were 43-43.
The Stampeders next action is Tuesday December 19th in Dauphin. Puck drop is at 7:30pm.