FARGO — The Fargo Force won the playoffs Sunday with a familiar face returning to the lineup who was absent from the previous series.
The Force defeated the Sioux City Musketeers 3-1 in Game 1 of the USHL Western Conference Finals at Seals Arena. Fargo holds a 1-0 lead in the five-game series.
The win came four days after the Force defeated the Tri-City Storm in a series sweep in the conference semifinals. Throughout the series, Force forward Brandon Svoboda watched from afar due to an injury.
But on Sunday, Svoboda returned to the Force's lineup and had a great performance in front of a crowd of 3,764.
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At 12:57 of the second period, Svoboda knocked the puck out of the air and into the net, giving the Force a 2-1 lead. Musketeers goaltender Samuel Urban tried to redirect the puck into the back of the net, and Fargo's Harper Benz collided with Urban's stick. The puck went over the net to Svoboda, who took advantage of the play from just outside the crease.
“I couldn't have done it without (Benz). He played great,” Svoboda said. “It felt really good.”
Force head coach Brett Skinner said Svoboda's return is “a huge shock to our batting lineup.”
“He’s big,” Skinner said of Svoboda. “He scored a big goal for us. He's a player with good taste and experience in this league.”
The game was tied 1-1 after the first period. Sioux City defenseman Owen Keefe took a shot from the hoop that went past Force goaltender Hampton Sulkinski on a screen. Keefe's goal at the 7:59 mark of the first half was assisted by Brian Nicholas and Hagen Burrows.
Fargo forward Mac Swanson answered with a backdoor goal two minutes later. Swanson drove into the Musketeers zone and found Zam Plante in the left circle. Plante returned the puck to Swanson, who scored from the bottom of the right circle into the back of the net. Michael Neumeier also assisted on the goal.
Swanson was named the USHL's Forward of the Week after his performance in the conference semifinals against Tri-City. Swanson had one goal, seven points and six assists.
Fargo added another point in the third period. Michael La Starza buried the goal near the blue line along the left wall. La Staza's shot hit the crossbar and went into the goal, with an assist from Leo Gruba.
Sulkinski stopped 21 of 22 Force shots. Fargo held Sioux City to 12 shots over the past two periods.
Sioux City head coach Jason Kerzner said his team has struggled to make the most of offensive opportunities in games.
“It's an execution,” Kerzner said. “When you have a chance to make a play, you have to make a play there. … We left too many plays on the table tonight.”
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Urban made 32 saves for the Musketeers. Sioux City defeated the Lincoln Stars 3-2 in overtime on Monday, April 22, in the conference semifinals to earn the series sweep.
Sioux City defenseman Ty Hanson received Defenseman of the Week honors. Hanson, a native of Hermantown, Minn., had two goals and two assists in the Musketeers' game against the Stars.
The Force went 7-1 in eight games against the Musketeers.
Fargo will host Sioux City in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m. at Shields Arena.
Skinner said several items in the game plan will be adjusted before the game.
“They're going to get even better and we have to make sure the energy level is where it needs to be,” Skinner said. “There are some things we have to be a little more patient with offensively.”
“We need to continue what we're doing,” Svoboda said. “Keep hitting the puck in the O-zone and be creative to put the puck in the net.”
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
David Samson/The Forum
Haugland joined the Forum in January 2023 after graduating from North Dakota State University. Readers can contact him by calling him at 701-241-5508 or emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com.
