A struggling Sioux Falls Stampede team got just what the doctor order when Team USA came to town. Not only did the Stampede down their opponent by five, but three power-play goals, two by Colin Swoyer, helped power Sioux Falls to the 6-1 victory.

A pair of first period goals would get the Stampede rolling. At the 6:26 mark they would get their first tally of the night. A long pass by Lean Bergmann sent Christoffer Karlsen into the USA zone. He weaved between two defenseman before making a perfect pass to Jack Doremus. Doremus blasted a shot by USA goalie Keegan Karkie and it was 1-0. That was Doremus’ eighth goal of the season.

Just 10 seconds after the goal, Sioux Falls would be on the power-play and it would not take any time at all for them to extend their lead. The Stampede won the faceoff, as Austin Albrecht pulled it to Jason O’Neill who sent it back to the point. AJ Villella blasted the shot that whizzed into the net and it was 2-0.

Into the second period the game would go, where the Sioux Falls Stampede would put this game away. Less than a minute into the period, Jaxon Nelson entered into the USA zone and dropped the puck back to Nolan Walker who blasted a shot from the face-off circle past Karkie to make it 3-0.

At the 9:16 mark the Stampede were back on the power-play again. This time it would be Swoyer’s blast from the point that would find an opening into the net to make it 4-0. That was Swoyer’s second goal of the season.

A little over five minutes later the lead would be five. Josh Passolt blasted a shot that was saved, but Max Johnson made a great move, diving for the loose puck in front of the net, tipping it in to make it 5-0.

At the three minute mark of the third, Sioux Falls would get their final tally of the night. This time it would be Colin Swoyer blasting another shot from the point for his second power-play goal of the game. Five of the goals that Sioux Falls scored came on hard blasts, three from long range.

Team USA would get on the board when Jonathan Gruden scored at the 18:15 mark of the third period. It was his second goal of the season.

Colin Swoyer finished with 2-goals. Walker had a goal and 2-assists. Albrecht added 2-assists and Villella and Johnson each had a goal and an assist. Jeremy Swayman was brilliant in the net for the Sioux Falls Stampede, stopping 31 of the 32 shots he faced.

The Stampede are off until Friday when they have a home-and-home series with the Fargo Force. Friday night’s game is in Fargo and the puck drops at 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier