The Sioux Falls Stampede allowed five goals in the second period en route to a 6-1 loss to the Omaha Lancers Saturday afternoon at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Sam Coatta tallied the only goal of the afternoon for the Herd who suffered just their second regulation loss of the season. It was just the first time in nine games the Herd had not earned at least one point in a game. Clay Witt took the loss in goal stopping 30 of 36 shots on the night.

The Stampede got on the board first at 16:14 of the first period when the Sam Coatta tallied his fifth goal of the season. Off a Lancer turnover in the high slot, Anthony Day slid the puck between the circles to Coatta who made a move on Omaha netminder Jeff Teglia and beat him on the stick side to give the Herd a 1-0 lead. The Stampede had several other opportunities in the first period, but Teglia was rock solid, make several spectacular saves.

In the second, the Stampede got into penalty trouble and the Lancers made them pay with three unanswered goals and five total in the period. Five different players scored in the period, including three straight powerplay goals from C.J. Ludwig, Dakota Eveland and Erik Haula. Leading 3-1, the Lancers ended the period with two big bounces to take a 5-1 lead into the locker room. Joe Lavin tried centering a puck in the slot, but it deflected off the back of Witt’s skate and into the back of the net. Then, with just three seconds remaining, Matt White picked up a loose puck to the left of Witt and lifted it just over his right shoulder to make it a 5-1 game. Omaha out shot Sioux Falls 20-11 in the period.

The Lancers would add one more tally in the third on a goal from Camden Wojtala at 14:54. The Stampede out shot the Lancers 12-11 in the final period, but were out shot 37-31 on the night. The Herd failed to score on any of their six powerplay opportunities on the afternoon.

The Stampede are now 10-2-4 on the season and six points behind Omaha for first place in the West Division. The Stampede will now prepare for a Thanksgiving night tilt against the Sioux City Musketeers, Thursday at the Sioux Falls Arena. Game time is 7:05 PM.

Courtesy: Sioux Falls Stampede.