LINCOLN, Neb. – Chris Wilkie’s third period goal with seven minutes to go gave the Tri-City Storm (1-0-0) a 4-3 win over the Lincoln Stars on opening night of the USHL season at the Ice Box Friday night.
Alec Dillon made 21 saves for his first USHL victory, while Mason Appleton notched his first USHL goal for Tri-City in the win. Forwards Garrett Gamez and Kyle Eastman also scored their first tallies of the season in the second period.
Lincoln took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Biagio Lerario at 9:54, but Tri-City responded one minute later when Appleton took a pass from forward Matthew Freytag and scored the first Storm goal of the new season.
Lerario struck again later in the frame, scoring an unassisted goal to give the Stars a 2-1 lead after the opening 20 minutes.
Lincoln extended their lead to 3-1 with an unassisted goal from Ludvig Hoff at 2:46 of the second and put the Storm in a two-goal hole.
But Gamez converted on the first Tri-City power play opportunity of the season, deflecting a Bobby Nardella shot past Lincoln goalie Cam Hackett and cutting the deficit to 3-2.
With just 16 seconds remaining in the period, Eastman tied the game, outwaiting Hackett and sliding the puck home. Storm head coach Jim Hulton later said Eastman’s strike was the turning point in the game for his team.
The assists on the tying goal went to forward Conner Valesano and assistant captain Jalen Schulz.
Tri-City outshot Lincoln 11-5 in the final period, but only needed one goal to pick up the win. Wilkie’s first of the season came at 12:47 and both Jake Wahlin and Kevin Kerr had assists on the game-winner.
Lincoln had one final chance in the final minute of the contest with the Storm killing a penalty to defenseman Mattias Goransson. But Tri-City held on and got the road victory, killing off the final seconds with two important face-off wins by center Chase Berger.
The Storm will now prepare for opening night at the Viaero Event Center on Oct. 3, when they’ll host the Sioux Falls Stampede at 7:30 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Aleksi Ainali and Wade Allison, along with defenseman Jason Krych…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Lincoln – Biagio Lerario (Blake Christiensen, Ryan Cook) 9:54
Tri-City – Mason Appleton (Matthew Freytag, Kevin Kerr) 10:55
Lincoln – Biagio Lerario (unassisted) 14:29
2nd Period
Lincoln – Ludvig Hoff (unassisted) 2:46
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Bobby Nardella, Chris Wilkie) 3:59
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (Conner Valesano, Jalen Schulz) 19:44
3rd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Jake Wahlin, Kevin Kerr) 12:47
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Cameron Spicer – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 4:59
2nd Period
Lincoln – Keegan Ward – (Slashing), 2 min, 3:09
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Interference), 2 min, 5:46
Lincoln – Connor Frantti – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 13:15
3rd Period
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Roughing), 19:02
Lincoln – Ryan Cook – (Kneeing), 5 min, 19:59
Lincoln – Ryan Cook – (Kneeing) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 19:59
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 5 min, 19:59
Power Play
Tri-City –1/2
Lincoln – 0/3
Shots
Tri-City: 11, 9, 11, = Total: 31
Lincoln: 12, 7, 5, = Total: 24
Saves
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 21/24
Lincoln – Cam Hackett – 27/31