KEARNEY, Neb. – Four first period goals gave the Green Bay Gamblers (26-22-6) an early lead to knock off the Tri-City Storm (19-33-3) 5-2 at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night.

Both Storm goals were USHL firsts, as affiliate player Jake Wahlin scored in the opening period and defenseman Grant Hutton was credited with a tally in the second.

Wahlin got Tri-City on the board and secured an early lead, scoring at 4:37 of the first frame. The play was started by Garrett Gamez, who completed a give-and-go play with Cody Milan and found the affiliate forward open in front of the net for a tap-in goal.

Green Bay responded quickly however, as Aaron O’Neill scored his first goal of the season 21 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1.

The Gamblers scored three more times in the first to take a 4-1 lead. Goals were tallied by forwards Dawson Cook, Ryan Lough and Ryan Siroky.

Tri-City pulled within two in the second when Hutton scored his first in his 15th USHL game after he was acquired at the trade deadline.

The Storm outshot Green Bay 27-13 in the final 40 minutes, but couldn’t get any closer.

The final goal was netted by Nick Schmaltz and it secured the 5-2 victory for the Gamblers.

Hayden Lavigne got the start in net for Tri-City and finished with 24 saves, while Cam Hacket picked up the win for Green Bay with 33 stops.

Tri-City will now hit the road for four games over the next two weekends in Fargo, Sioux City and Green Bay. The series with the Force at Scheels Arena starts on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

The Storm’s final home game is scheduled for April 5 against Lincoln at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Joey DiBenedetto, Nick Hutchison and Patrick Curry, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson, Tory Dello and goaltender Jacob Johansson…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Tri-City – Jake Wahlin (Garrett Gamez, Cody Milan) 4:37
Green Bay – Aaron O’Neill (Jordan Gross) 4:58
Green Bay – Dawson Cook (Matthew Weis, Nick Schmaltz) 6:13

Green Bay – Ryan Lough (Matthew Weis) 13:09

Green Bay – Ryan Siroky (Drew Best) 19:28

2nd Period

Tri-City – Grant Hutton (Garrett Gamez, Cody Milan) 14:20

3rd Period

Green Bay – Nick Schmaltz (power play) (Matthew Weis, Connor Hurley) 11:48

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 8:54
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 8:54
Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Interference), 2 min, 14:48
Green Bay – Nick Schmaltz – (Hooking), 2 min, 15:39

2nd Period

Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Checking From Behind), 5 min, 2:36
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 2:36
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting), 5 min, 2:36
Green Bay – Jordan Gross – (Fighting), 5 min, 2:36
Green Bay – Jordan Gross – (Fighting) (Instigator), 2 min, 2:36
Green Bay – Jordan Gross – (Fighting) (Instigator) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 2:36
Green Bay – Patrick Polino – (Tripping), 2 min, 8:35
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag – (Head Contact), 2 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 18:26
Green Bay – Dawson Cook – (Interference), 2 min, 19:59

3rd Period

Green Bay – Dawson Cook – (Elbowing), 2 min, 9:42
Tri-City – Daniel Fritz – (Interference), 2 min, 11:15
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 19:00

Power Play

Green Bay –1/7

Tri-City – 0/4

Shots

Green Bay: 16, 9, 4, = Total: 29
Tri-City: 8, 19, 8, = Total: 35

Saves

Green Bay – Cam Hackett – 33/35
Tri-City – Hayden Lavigne – 24/29