KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (1-1-0) fell behind in the second period and couldn’t complete a late comeback, taking a 5-3 loss to the Sioux Falls Stampede (1-0-1) on opening night at the Viaero Event Center Friday night.

The Storm got goals in the game from Matthew Freytag, Chris Wilkie and Chase Berger. For Wilkie, it was his second tally in as many games to start the season.

Blake Weyrick began the contest in net for Tri-City, but was relieved after allowing four goals through the first half of the contest. Backup Alec Dillon made 14 stops after coming into the game, holding the Stampede off the board late in the contest and allowing the Storm to make a late comeback.

First period goals from Sioux Falls forwards Logan O’Connor and Kieffer Bellows had the Stampede in front 2-1 after 20 minutes. The lone goal for Tri-City was scored by Freytag on the power play, his first of the season.

Sioux Falls opened things up in the second frame, adding goals by forward Troy Loggins and defenseman Lukas Buchta to take a 4-1 lead.

The Storm made their move in the final period, scoring twice in two minutes with goals from Wilkie and Berger.

Wilkie found a puck in front of the net off a no-look pass from his linemate Nick Master and slipped it into the far side of the goal.

Moments later, it was Wilkie’s shot that created a rebound in front for Berger, who made it a 4-3 game.

Berger’s goal ignited the home crowd, and gave defenseman Mattias Goransson his second assist of the night. Just after the goal, a slashing penalty to Bellows gave the Storm a power play with an opportunity to even the game, but Tri-City came up empty.

In the final seconds the Storm pulled Dillon for an extra attacker in another attempt to tie the game, but Stampede forward Dakota Joshua spoiled their plans, scoring an empty net goal to give his team a 5-3 win.

Sioux Falls goaltender Stefanos Lekkas earned the win for his team, making 36 saves.

The Storm will now head to Des Moines to finish their weekend, taking on the Buccaneers at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.

Tri-City is back at the Viaero Event Center for a weekend series with the Chicago Steel on Oct. 10 and 11.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Aleksi Ainali and Wade Allison. Defenseman Jalen Schulz was also scratched, serving a three-game suspension…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Sioux Falls – Logan O’Connor (short-handed) (Dakota Joshua) 3:35
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag (Mattias Goransson, Tory Dello) 3:52
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows (power play) (Joey Raats, Bryan Sienerth) 14:10

2nd Period

Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins (Dakota Joshua) 0:18
Sioux Falls – Lukas Buchta (unassisted) 9:05

3rd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Nick Master, Kevin Kerr) 11:12
Tri-City – Chase Berger (Chris Wilkie, Mattias Goransson) 13:03
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua (empty net) (unassisted) 18:43

PENALTIES

1st Period

Sioux Falls – Chris Pohlkamp – (Hooking), 2 min, 2:47
Sioux Falls – Bryan Sienerth – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:38
Tri-City – Chase Hatcher – (Slashing), 2 min, 8:27
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting), 5 min, 12:33
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:33
Sioux Falls – Nikolas Koberstein –(Fighting), 5 min, 12:33
Sioux Falls – Nikolas Koberstein – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:33
Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:33
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:33
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Roughing), 2 min, 12:33

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chase Hatcher – (Tripping), 2 min, 12:01
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:57
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:57
Sioux Falls – Chaz Switzer – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:57
Sioux Falls – Chaz Switzer – (Abuse of Officials) (Misconduct) 10 min, 14:57

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Tripping), 2 min, 0:19
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Head Contact) (Major), 5 min, 4:47
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Head Contact) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 4:47
Sioux Falls – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 6:41
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Tripping), 2 min, 7:59
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:44

Power Play

Sioux Falls –1/7

Tri-City – 1/4

Shots

Sioux Falls: 12, 13, 8, = Total: 33
Tri-City: 7, 14, 18, = Total: 39

Saves

Sioux Falls – Stefanos Lekkas – 36/39
Tri-City – Blake Weyrick – 14/18, Alec Dillon – 14/14