Clay Witt stopped all 30 shots faced for his first shutout of the season as the Stampede topped Youngstown 3-0 Friday night at the Sioux Falls Arena. Matt Farris, Matt Zarbo and Sam Coatta all scored in the win as the Stampede improved to 10-1-4 on the season. The win kept the Stampede within four points of first place Omaha who defeated Des Moines 5-1.

The Stampede got things going 14:02 into the period, on the powerplay when Matt Farris tallied his fourth goal of the season. Chad Ruhwedel started the play with a blast from the right point that was stopped by Youngstown netminder Matt Mahalak, but the rebound came to Farris who settled the puck and wristed the shot into the back of the net to make it a 1-0 game. The Stampede out shot Youngstown 13-4 in the period and things got chippy at the end of the period and the physical play who continue through the night, but the Stampede would not be affected.

In the second, the Stampede added to their lead 4:44 into the second period when Matt Zarbo tallied his sixth goal of the season. Matt Lindblad brought the puck across the Youngstown line and fed Zarbo on the left side who sped past the Phantom defense and slapped a shot past Mahalak to make it a 2-0 game.

The Stampede finished things off 4:49 into the third period when Sam Coatta tallied his fourth goal of the season. George Michalke brought the puck into the Phantoms zone and was able to get a shot off onto the Youngstown net which deflected off Mahalak and came to Coatta who squeezed in between the defense and found the back of the net to give the Stampede a 3-0 cushion. Clay Witt made several big saves throughout the game and a few in the third period to keep the Phantoms off the board. He has now won four straight games and is now 5-1-2 with a 2.09 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

The Stampede went 1 for 4 on the powerplay while holding the Phantoms scoreless on all five off their opportunities. The Stampede are now 7-0-0 when scoring a powerplay goal.

The Stampede return to action Saturday afternoon in a big tilt against the first place Omaha Lancers. Game time is 3:05 PM and you can hear the game live on News Talk 1320 KELO-AM starting at 2:40 PM with the Little Caesars Pizza pre-game show.

Courtesy: Jim Olander, Sioux Falls Stampede