SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Tri-City Storm (11-17-2) scored three goals in the second period and held on to win their third consecutive game over the Sioux Falls Stampede (20-9-2) by a final score of 6-4 on Saturday night at the Sioux Falls Arena.

Austin Poganski led the charge, scoring twice, and the Storm got four other goals from Ryan McMurphy, Chase Berger, Dan Labosky and Christian Horn.

Tri-City started quickly, led by Poganski, who scored 56 seconds into the first period to give the Storm a 1-0 lead. Poganski took a pass from Nolan Aibel, then scored on his own rebound. With the assist, Aibel notched his first USHL point in his tenth game.

The Stampede scored twice in 20 seconds later in the opening frame to take a 2-1 lead, but Tri-City responded to tie things back up when Ryan McMurphy found a rebound in front of the net and scored his third goal of the weekend. The initial shot came from defenseman Jalen Schulz, and McMurphy scored his sixth of the season to knot things up going into the locker room.

Despite a tied score, Tri-City had the advantage in shots on goal in the opening frame, 16-5.

The Storm dominated the second period, scoring three goals and taking a 5-2 lead. For the second consecutive frame, Poganski scored in the first minute to get things started. His second of the game and ninth of the season came on the power play, as the forward found a puck at the side of the net and beat goaltender David Jacobson. Assists on the goal went to Garrett Cecere and Horn.

34 seconds later, Berger scored his second in as many games after taking a pass from linemate Patrick Curry. That prompted the Stampede to pull Jacobson from the game in favor of backup Arthur Brey.

Minutes later, the Storm scored their sixth shorthanded goal of the year when Daniel Labosky picked up a loose puck in the Sioux Falls end and beat Brey to make it 5-2.

Sioux Falls were determined to climb back in the game in the third period, but the Storm held strong and were able to finish off the victory.

An insurance tally by Horn came in handy as the Stampede were pelting Tri-City netminder Jacob Johansson. Garrett Gamez started the play by winning a battle in the corner and getting the puck to his center Joel L’Esperance. L’Esperance moved behind the net and put a pass right on Horn’s stick in front. It is the fourth consecutive game with a goal for the Plymouth, Minn. native, and it gave the Storm enough room to seal the win.

Johansson won his tenth game of the season, making 23 saves on 27 shots.

The Storm will now shift their focus to a midweek game in Omaha against the Lancers this Wednesday night.

Tri-City will return home for a pair of weekend games against Omaha and Sioux Falls on Jan. 10 and 11. The Lancers will be in Kearney for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop on Friday night, while Sioux Falls returns for a 7:05 start on Saturday.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Chris Wilkie, Joey DiBenedetto and Nick Hutchison, along with defenseman Cutler Martin…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (Nolan Aibel) 0:56
Sioux Falls – Keith Burchett (Daniel Fritz, Louis Nanne) 8:25
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko (C.J. Franklin, Bo Pellah) 8:45

Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy (Jalen Schulz) 11:45

2nd Period

Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Garrett Cecere, Christian Horn) 0:47
Tri-City – Chase Berger (Patrick Curry) 1:21
Tri-City – Daniel Labosky (shorthanded) (unassisted) 5:04

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin (power play) (Bo Pellah, Zeb Knutson) 2:16
Tri-City – Christian Horn (Joel L’Esperance, Garrett Gamez) 7:08
Sioux Falls – Zeb Knutson (Dennis Kravchenko) 9:48

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Jason Stephanik – (Slashing), 2 min, 5:25
Sioux Falls – Griffen Molino – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:31
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Tripping), 2 min, 19:58

2nd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Elbowing), 2 min, 3:56
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Holding), 2 min, 9:34
Sioux Falls – Joe Schuldt – (Kneeing), 2 min, 12:22
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Slashing), 2 min, 12:41
Tri-City – Christian Horn – (Slashing), 2 min, 15:09
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Hooking), 2 min, 19:27

3rd Period
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 1:42
Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern – (Kneeing), 2 min, 3:05
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Slashing), 2 min, 7:38
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 11:15
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 11:15
Sioux Falls – Louis Nanne – (Interference), 2 min, 12:38
Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy – (Slashing), 2 min, 18:54
Sioux Falls – Bo Pellah – (Interference), 2 min, 19:37

Power Play

Tri-City – 1/8

Sioux Falls – 1/7

Shots

Tri-City: 16, 11, 5 = Total: 32

Sioux Falls: 5, 6, 16 = Total: 27

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 23/27

Sioux Falls – David Jacobson – 14/18, Arthur Brey – 12/14