OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha Lancers (26-6-4) defeated the Tri-City Storm (12-20-2) 4-1 in the finale of the teams’ nine-game season series on Friday night at the Ralston Arena.

Garrett Gamez scored the lone goal for Tri-City in the loss, while goaltender Jacob Johansson made 30 saves in a losing effort.

The Lancers won their eighth game in nine matchups with the Storm this season. A year ago in 2012-13, Tri-City won six of the eight meetings.

Omaha took a 1-0 lead halfway through the first period when forward Brian Williams found room in the slot and beat Johansson for his fourth goal of the season.

In the opening frame, the Lancers outshot Tri-City 13-9 and took the one-goal lead into the first intermission.

Omaha added to their lead in the second when Nash Worden scored at 13:30 to make it 2-0 Lancers. Worden got a perfect feed in front of the net, where he was left open, and slammed the puck past the line.

Lancer forward Louie Rowe had the first assist on both of the Lancers first two goals.

Tri-City got their only goal of the evening with two minutes remaining in the middle frame and cut the Omaha lead to 2-1.

Forward Joel L’Esperance started the play, controlling the puck against multiple layers of the Lancer defense and making a cross-ice pass  to linemate Chris Wilkie. Wilkie moved in on net and dropped the puck off to Gamez for a point-blank shot. While Omaha netminder Hayden Hawkey made the initial save, Gamez picked up the rebound, moved around the sprawled out goaltender and fired it into the back of the net.

The goal was the fourth of the season for Gamez, who has been playing well for Tri-City over the past few weeks. Wilkie’s assist gives him a point in each of his last four games.

Trailing by just one goal to start the third, the Storm couldn’t break through against the Omaha defense and Hawkey to tie the game.

The Lancers got a goal from Ryan Tait just 3:36 into the third to make it 3-1, and sealed the win with an empty net goal by leading scorer Jake Randolph.

Hawkey finished the game with 21 saves won his sixth game of the year against Tri-City.

Omaha outshot the Storm 11-4 in the final period and finished with the edge in shots on goal, 34-22.

The Storm return home to face the Dubuque Fighting Saints at the Viaero Event Center Saturday night at7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Thomas Aldworth, Christian Horn and Nick Hutchison, along with defensemen Kevin Kerr and Cutler Martin.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Omaha – Brian Williams (Louie Rowe) 9:23

2nd Period

Omaha – Nash Worden (Louie Rowe, Brian Williams) 13:30
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (Chris Wilkie, Joel L’Esperance) 18:00

3rd Period

Omaha – Ryan Tait (Connor Light, Jimmy Schuldt) 3:36
Omaha – Jake Randoph (empty net) (Tyler Vesel, Gage Hough) 19:09

PENALTIES

1st Period
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 2:27
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Tripping), 2 min, 16:24
Omaha – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 17:34

2nd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Slashing), 2 min, 7:38
Omaha – Gage Hough – (Interference), 2 min, 7:50
Omaha – Ryan Tait – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 9:39
Omaha – Ryan Tait – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 9:39
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 14:48

3rd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (High Sticking), 2 min, 5:45
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (Roughing), 2 min, 9:17
Omaha – Nash Worden – (Slashing), 2 min, 9:17
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 15:45
Omaha – Nash Worden – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 15:45

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/3

Omaha – 0/5

Shots

Tri-City: 9, 9, 4 = Total: 22

Omaha: 13, 10, 11 = Total: 34

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 30/33

Omaha – Hayden Hawkey – 21/22