The Swan Valley Stampeders travelled south to Virden Tuesday October 23rd as they were looking to keep their recent winning streak alive.
The opening twenty minutes was an uneventful period as both clubs had a rather sluggish start tonight in Virden. Fans at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place were treated to an unbelievable save by Michael Davis in the dying seconds of the period as the Stampeders turned the puck over behind the net and popped out front to a wide open Oil Cap. Both clubs would send eight shots each on net in the opening frame but could not solve either Michael Davis or Dalton Dosch. Brad Goethals picked up a penalty as time expired sending the Oil Capitals to the power play to start the second. Both teams headed to the dressing room tied at zero.
Quintin Sudom took a tripping penalty early on sending the Oil Capitals to an extended five on three power play. Ben Dalke made them pay as he opened the scoring at 1:14 snapping home his fourth of the year beating Michael Davis blocker side. The Stampeders found themselves with three consecutive power plays but could not sustain enough pressure to find the equalizer. The middle frame closed out with the Stampeders trailing the Oil Capitals 1-0 but leading in the shot department 20-17.
The Stampeders certainly found their legs in the third period as they took the play to the Oil Caps. Josh Tripp tied the game at 2:21 after Matthew Dyck caused an Oil Capital turnover in the neutral zone. Tripp stepped across the blue line and sent a wrist shot on net that beat Dalton Dosch low glove side. Quintin Sudom jumped into the play after the following face off and beat Virden’s netminder glove side six seconds later which gave the Stampeders their first lead of the evening. The Oil Capitals pressed hard in the dying minutes of the third but it was Brad Goethals who sealed the deal with an empty net goal at 19:39 and the Stampeders went on to defeat the Oil Capitals 3-1.
“Virden played us hard tonight. They took away time and space from our guys. The team battled together and found away to get the 2 points,” said Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff. “Tonight’s game is a result of a great team effort.”
With the road win tonight, the team now moves to 9-2-1 and the best start to a Stampeder season in recent memory. The next action for the Stamps will be Friday October 26th in Swan River against the Winnipeg Blues. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm. Friday’s game is a proud presentation of Kal Tire. See you all Friday at the Centennial Arena.