Men's Ice Hockey 5/4/2023 11:07:00 PM

LATE POWER-PLAY GOAL GIVES FORCE GAME 1 WIN VS. STARS

POSTGAME ARTICLE PRESENTED BY GREAT CLIPS

Cole Knuble scored with 44.6 seconds remaining in regulation and the Fargo Force defeated the Lincoln Stars, 1-0, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night at Scheels Arena.

The Stars went on the power play with 3:13 to go in the game but committed a penalty 36 seconds later to wash it out. Another penalty came 1:17 later and the Force capitalized on a brief five-on-three power play as Knuble cut in from the far side and scored top shelf far-post side.

Cameron Whitehead stopped 30-of-31 shots in net including several tremendous stops in the opening frame. Joe Palodichuk one-touched a feed from the corner but Whitehead denied him despite Palodichuk being all alone in front of the net with 7:42 to go. He made another big save with 3:32 remaining in the first period when Zam Plante's shot ricocheted off a sliding Boston Buckberger up to toward the corner of the net but Whitehead calmed raised his left should to lift the puck up against the post and then onto the top of the net to force a stoppage.

The Stars look to even up the series on Friday night when they face the Force in Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. at Scheels Arena. Lincoln is home on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. for Game 3 and will host Game 4 at 7:05, if it is necessary. Tickets can be purchased at lincolnstars.com.

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