OMAHA, Neb. – Two second period goals were all the Tri-City Storm (12-17-2) needed on Wednesday night to defeat the Omaha Lancers (23-6-4) 2-1 and get their first victory against their in-state rivals this season.
Forward Chase Berger picked up the first assist on both of his teams’ goals in the win, while Chris Wilkie converted on a breakaway in his hometown and goaltender Jacob Johansson made 17 saves in his sixth consecutive victory.
The Storm outshot Omaha 30-18 in the game. The 18 shots against are the lowest total Tri-City has allowed this season.
Tyler Vesel opened the scoring with his USHL leading 25th goal at 2:38 of the first. But Tri-City settled down after a shaky few minutes and finished the period with some good offensive chances, outshooting the Lancers 10-8.
The Storm scored both of their goals in the middle period to take the lead for good.
Berger found Wilkie and send him in alone on a breakaway minutes into the period. The Omaha native made a quick move and beat Lancers’ goaltender Cole Bruns with a wrist shot glove side to tie the game 1-1. It was Wilkie’s eighth tally of the season in his first game back on the ice after missing two games with an injury.
Later in the period, Berger pickpocketed a Lancer defenseman in front of the Omaha net and fed a pass right on the stick of forward Kyle Eastman for a tap in goal. Eastman’s second tally of the season turned out to be the game-winner for Tri-City, and the Angola, N.Y. native was named the first star of the game for his efforts.
Neither team was able to score in the third period as the Storm locked things down defensively, allowing only five shots in the final frame.
Both teams also held each other scoreless on special teams, as the Storm were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Lancers were 0-for-5.
The two teams will have a rematch on Friday night in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center with the puck dropping at7:30 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nick Hutchison, Joey DiBenedetto and Nolan Aibel, along with defenseman Cutler Martin.…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Omaha – Tyler Vesel (Louie Rowe, Nash Worden) 2:38
2nd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Chase Berger) 2:40
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (Chase Berger) 16:07
3rd Period
(no scoring)
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:35
Omaha – Matt Nelson – (Holding), 2 min, 11:04
2nd Period
Omaha – Connor Light – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:08
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Tripping), 2 min, 6:56
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Tripping), 2 min, 10:11
Omaha – Nash Worden – (Interference), 2 min, 13:48
Tri-City – Austin Poganski – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:48
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Roughing), 2 min, 20:00
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Roughing), 2 min, 20:00
3rd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Holding), 2 min, 7:12
Omaha – Luca Frigo – (Head Contact), 2 min, 16:16
Power Play
Tri-City – 0/4
Omaha – 0/5
Shots
Tri-City: 10, 13, 7 = Total: 30
Omaha: 8, 5, 5 = Total: 18
Saves
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 17/18
Omaha – Cole Bruns – 28/30