(KNFL/KFGO) – The Fargo Force were looking to take control of their best-of-five Western Conference Finals series against the Sioux Falls Stampede, as the series swung to Fargo for Game 3. After losing Game 1, the Force escaped Game 2 with a 2-1 overtime victory to even the series at 1 game a piece, as Axel Lofgren would put home the game winner. Game 3 would be the definition of a slugfest all throughout.
Garrett Lindberg would get his 1st goal of the postseason with a powerplay goal at the 7:32 mark of the 1st period to start the scoring for Fargo. A similar situation in Game 2 as Sioux Falls had a goal taken from them on a challenge, leading to the overtime win for Fargo. This goal by Lindberg, however, would stand, Zac Zimmerman and Nate Delladonna would get assists. Sioux Falls would answer later in the period, as Brock Schultz would score on a powerplay goal at the 17:32 mark of the 1st, assisted by Jake Prunty and Tobias Öhman. The game would be tied at 1 until Logan Renkowski netted his 4th of the playoffs at the 5:02 mark of the 2nd period, while being assisted by Markus Jakobsen, and Noah Mannausau. Mason West would answer less than 15 seconds later, as he tied it at 2 at the 5:13 mark of the 2nd. West was assisted by Axel Lofgren, and Cullen McCrate. Fargo would get a powerplay, but Sioux Falls would get a shorthanded goal at the 14:11 mark of the 2nd. Logan Renkowksi would get his 2nd of the night, which would be unassisted. The Force were looking to respond, and Gavin Uhlenkamp delivered, scoring his 6th of the postseason with 42 seconds left in regulation. Mason West and Graham Jones would get an assist. The game would be tied at 3 going into the 1st overtime, and eventually no one would score. It would be scoreless in the 2nd overtime as well. Finally, in the 3rd overtime, Sioux Falls had a powerplay, but Fargo had the puck in the Sioux Falls zone. Nate Delledonna would seal the deal with his 3rd goal of the playoffs at the 5:17 mark of the 3rd overtime, being assisted by Arseni Marchenko, and Saxton Tess, as Fargo wins 4-3 in Game 3 in 3 overtimes.
Fargo’s Ajay White would be outstanding again, stopping 65 of the 68 Sioux Falls shots. Sioux Falls’ Linards Feldbergs would stop 68 of 72 Fargo shots. Fargo was 1 of 6 on the powerplay, while Sioux Falls was 1 of 4. This would end up being the longest game in Fargo Force franchise history, as it lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes.
With a 2-1 series lead, the Fargo Force can clinch a birth in the Clark Cup Final with a win tonight. 5:45 PM is the pregame show on 101.9 Jack FM.
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