Fargo Force Week 23 Recap

The Fargo Force were back at Scheels Arena for a two game weekend series versus the Omaha Lancers. The Force entered the weekend with a now 11-game point streak and looked to remain the top team in the USHL. 

On Friday, March 3rd the Force started off quickly as they scored their first two goals within the game's first five minutes and just 27 seconds apart. The first goal was by Joe Palodichuk at 3:54, followed at 4:21 by a Kevin Scott goal. Fargo would extend the lead to 3-0 when Tanner Walos found the back of the net at 19:20 to send the Force to the locker room with all the momentum. Omaha would try and make a game of it when they shut out Fargo in the second period and cut into the lead on a goal by Justin Stupka. The Force would return to their first period form in the last period by getting another three goals past Lancer goalie Kevin Pasche. Two Anthony Menghini goals sandwiched Girts Silkalns only goal of the contest and made the final 6-1 in favor of the Force. The Game’s three stars were 1st Star Kevin Scott, 2nd Star Tanner Walos, and 3rd Star Anthony Menghini.

Saturday’s game was a much cleaner affair as both teams stayed out of the penalty box for the most part and each only had one power play opportunity. Neither team was able to break a scoreless tie in the first two periods with the two goaltenders stopping a combined 43 shots. The third period played out similarly to the first two until Brett Link scored his 17th goal of the season with just under four minutes remaining in the contest. Omaha pulled their goaltender for the last 90 seconds but were unable to capitalize on the extra attacker. The Game’s three Stars were 1st Star Anton Castro, 2nd Star Bret Link, and 3rd Star Leo Gruba.

The Fargo Force have already punched their ticket to the USHL Playoffs! After a weekend sweep by the Force and a loss by Sioux Falls on Friday night ensured that the Force could finish no worse than 6th place in the Western Conference. The Force netted all four points from the weekend series and remain at the top of the USHL and the Western Conference with an overall record of 33-8-2-3 (71 points) and lead Waterloo (30-15-1-0 61 points) by 10 points in the Western Conference.

The Force travel south to Sioux City Friday and then up to Sioux Falls on Saturday for a weekend versus the Musketeers (20-21-2–3 45 points) and Stampede (18-23-4-3 43 points). The Force will return to Scheels Arena on March 16th, 17th, and 18th when they host the Waterloo Black Hawks.