KEARNEY, Neb. – For the second consecutive game, the Tri-City Storm (14-21-2) were on the winning end of a five-round shootout, defeating the Sioux Falls Stampede (21-12-4) by a score of 3-2 at the Viaero Event Center on Friday night.

Forward Chris Wilkie scored twice in the third period for Tri-City, while Hayden Lavigne stopped 28 shots to get his second straight win in his third consecutive start.

After a scoreless first period, things headed up in the second. The Stampede took a 1-0 lead on a goal by forward Keith Burchett at 4:03 of the middle frame. Former Storm defenseman Garrett Cecere was credited with the first assist in his first game with Sioux Falls.

Later in the period, things got physical between the two teams. At 6:41, a combined total of 59 penalty minutes were assessed to both teams. Storm forward Drew Mayer as well as Sioux Falls defenseman Ed McGovern were both given game ejections as part of the scuffle.

Tri-City was still trailing at the start of the final frame, but Wilkie quickly changed things, tying the game 1-1 with a bad-angle shot that got by Stampede goaltender David Jacobson. Assists on the goal were given to forwards Christian Horn and Garrett Gamez.

Wilkie then gave the Storm the lead with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, beating Jacobson with a shot from the top of the right circle to make it 2-1 Tri-City.

The Omaha, Neb. native took a pass from his newest teammate, Conner Valesano, who was the player acquired in exchange for Cecere earlier in the week. It was Wilkie’s 11th goal of the season and Valesano’s second assist in his second game with the Storm.

But the Stampede tied things up in the final minutes when Tony Calderone found a rebound and beat Lavigne for his 12th goal of the season. Sioux Falls had an extra attacker on the ice and their late tally sent the game to overtime.

The Storm were whistled for a too many men penalty in the closing seconds of regulation, but were able to kill off the ensuing power play in the extra frame. Neither team was able to score in the overtime period so the game went to a shootout.

Sioux Falls got an opening goal from Dennis Kravchenko in the first round, but Lavigne stopped the next four shooters he faced.

Down 1-0 in the skill competition, Wilkie sent things to a fourth round in the Storm’s final chance to continue the game. Storm forward Dan Labosky got the winning shootout goal in the fifth round, beating Jacobson with a nice backhand move and sending the Tri-City fans home happy.

The Storm are now 4-2-0 against Sioux Falls this season.

The two teams will finish their season series on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center with the game getting underway at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Nick Hutchison, along with defensemen Kevin Kerr and Cutler Martin.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
(no scoring)

2nd Period
Sioux Falls – Keith Burchett (Garrett Cecere) 4:03

3rd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Christian Horn, Garrett Gamez) 4:09
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Conner Valesano) 16:07
Sioux Falls – Tony Calderone (extra attacker) (Jason Stephanik, Dennis Kravchenko) 18:41

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko – (Elbowing), 2 min, 7:20
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Hooking), 2 min, 7:37
Sioux Falls – Cody Milan – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 9:13
Sioux Falls – Cody Milan – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 9:13
Tri-City – Fredric Larsson – (Elbowing), 2 min, 13:27

2nd Period
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Fighting (Instigator)), 2 min, 6:41
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Fighting), 5 min, 6:41
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Fighting) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 6:41
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Fighting), 5 min, 6:41
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 6:41
Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin – (Fighting), 5 min, 6:41
Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin – (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 6:41
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 6:41

Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern – (Third Man In) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 6:41

3rd Period
Sioux Falls – Jack Stander – (Hooking), 2 min, 13:17
Tri-City – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 19:53

Power Play

Sioux Falls – 0/3

Tri-City – 0/5

Shots

Sioux Falls: 8, 11, 9, 2 = Total: 30

Tri-City: 10, 5, 19, 1 = Total: 36

Saves

Sioux Falls – David Jacobson – 33/35

Tri-City – Hayden Lavigne – 28/30