Fargo Force logo.
(KNFL/KFGO) – The Fargo Force played one final regular season game before the Clark Cup Playoffs against the Tri-City Storm at the Scheels Arena. Fargo the night before dominated in an 8-1 route, thanks to 6 goals in the 2nd period, and Fargo was looking for the 2 game weekend sweep, as well as the season series victory. Fargo has already been locked into the 2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, but were looking to end the regular season on a high note.
Both goalies for each team gave up no goals in the first period, as Ajay White for Fargo, stopped all 11 1st period shots. Owen Nelson of Tri-City stopped all 11 Fargo shots in the 1st. But, in the 2nd period, Fargo would break through on the powerplay, as Zac Zimmerman, at the 15:58 mark of the 2nd, would score a powerplay goal. It would be his 5th of the season, with it being assisted by Kolin Sisson, and Graham Jones, to make it 1-0 Fargo. Later in the period, Cullen McCrate would add on a goal for his 10th of the year at the 19:04 mark, while being assisted by Graham Jones, and Kolin Sisson. Both would have 2 assists in the game. Fargo would have a 2-0 lead, until Bradyon Sisco of Tri-City, would get his first goal of the season to get the Storm on the board at the 19:30 mark of the 2nd. It would be his first of the year. At the 3:31 mark of the 3rd period, Mason Jenson would tie the game at 2 while being assisted by Brayden Sisco, and Luka Rohloff. Fargo would get 21 shots off in the 3rd, but it would stay tied at 2-2 at the end of the period. Overtime would have the same result despite some chances for both teams. Eventually, in the 3rd round of the shootout, Axel Lofgren would keep Fargo alive with a shootout goal. Then, Ajay White would make an incredible save to begin round 4, and finally, Mason West would seal the deal with a shootout goal in the 4th round to win it for Fargo.
Fargo would shoot 57 shots total in the game, not counting the shootout. Meanwhile, Tri-City shot the puck 25 times. Ajay White went 23/25 on saves for Fargo, while Owen Nelson went 55/57 on saves for Tri-City. The Fargo Force end the regular season with mark of 38-19-3-2 with 81 points. Tri-City, would finish with a regular season record of 26-29-4-3. Also, with the 2 losses Friday and last night, along with 2 Des Moines victories, Tri-City drop to the 6 seed, and will play Sioux City in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Des Moines, who jumped to the 4 seed, will play Lincoln in the 1st round. With Fargo being the 2 seed, they will play the highest seed that advances, that being either Sioux City, Des Moines, or Lincoln in the Conference Semis. The Conference Semis for the Fargo Force begin April 18th and 19th at Scheels Arena.
FINAL PLAYER STAT LINES(SCORING)
Fargo: KOLLIN SISSON(2 assists, (35th and 36th of season))
Fargo: GRAHAM JONES(2 assists(25th and 26th of season))
Fargo: ZAC ZIMMERMAN(1 Powerplay Goal(5th goal of season))
Fargo: CULLEN MCCRATE(1 goal(10th of season))
Tri-City: BRAYDON SISCO(1 goal(1st of season) 1 assist(1st of season))
Tri-City: MASON JENSON(1 goal(12th of season))
Tri-City: Luka Rohloff(1 assist(6th of season))
Comments