KEARNEY, Neb. – Despite recording 57 shots on net through three periods and overtime, the Tri-City Storm (4-2-1) came up short to the Green Bay Gamblers (3-3-0), losing 4-3 in a six-round shootout at the Viaero Event Center Saturday afternoon.
Forward Nick Master scored a power play goal for Tri-City, while defenseman Bobby Nardella and forward Jake Wahlin each picked up their first goals of the season in the loss.
Green Bay goaltender Jason Pawloski was outstanding in the contest, making 54 saves and stopping five of six shooters from Tri-City in the shootout.
The Storm took the lead in the first period on Master’s second goal of the season. The UMass-Lowell commit found a rebound in front and made it 1-0 early on. The goal was the eighth power play strike for Tri-City on the season, who started the day with the top power play conversion percentage in the league.
It was a lopsided opening period, with the Storm earning four power play opportunities and outshooting Green Bay 20-6. But Pawloski kept the Gamblers in the game, shutting down some great Tri-City chances.
In the middle frame, Green Bay scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. Forwards Christopher Brown and Ryan Smith had the goals for the Gamblers, and gave the team their first lead of the weekend.
Defenseman Vili Saarijarvi scored at 7:57 of the third for Green Bay, pushing the lead to 3-1.
But the Storm turned things around and got back in the game with goals from Nardella and Wahlin. 59 seconds after Saarijarvi made it 3-1, Nardella responded, scoring on a pass from forward Chris Wilkie to cut the Green Bay lead to 3-2.
Less than five minutes later, Wahlin found the back of the net to tie the game at 3-3. Defensemen Tory Dello and Jalen Schulz recorded assists on the tying tally and the teams were all knotted up.
Just like they did in the first period, Tri-City recorded 20 shots on net in the third, while Green Bay had just three. But neither team could find a winning tally, and the game went to overtime.
After a scoreless OT, defenseman Anthony Walsh and forward Mitch Snyder beat Storm netminder Alec Dillon in the shootout to get the win for the Gamblers.
The lone shootout goal for Tri-City was scored by Cody Milan.
Dillon made 20 saves for the Storm in defeat, continuing his impressive start in the USHL.
Tri-City will head on the road to face Team USA in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Friday and Saturday next weekend. Both games will start at 6:00 p.m. CST.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Aleksi Ainali, Nolan Aibel and Wade Allison, along with defenseman Cameron Spicer and goaltender Blake Weyrick…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Nick Master (power play) (Jake Wahlin, Bobby Nardella) 7:43
2nd Period
Green Bay – Christopher Brown (unassisted) 2:14
Green Bay – Ryan Smith (unassisted) 16:56
3rd Period
Green Bay – Vili Saarijarvi (Anthony Walsh, Joe Wegwerth) 7:57
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella (Chris Wilkie) 8:56
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin (Tory Dello, Jalen Schulz) 13:36
Overtime
(no scoring)
PENALTIES
1st Period
Green Bay – Luc Lalor – (Boarding), 2 min, 6:34
Green Bay – Jake Kauppila – (Roughing), 2 min, 7:54
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Diving), 2 min, 10:00
Green Bay – Grant Frederic – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:46
Green Bay – Chris Jones – (High Sticking), 2 min, 12:57
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 17:12
2nd Period
Green Bay – RJ Gicewicz – (High Sticking), 2 min, 2:44
Green Bay – Derek Barach – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 3:39
Green Bay – Derek Barach – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 3:39
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (High Sticking), 2 min, 7:44
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Interference), 2 min, 10:13
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Holding), 2 min, 14:32
3rd Period
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Roughing), 2 min, 10:55
Green Bay – Joe Wegwerth – (Roughing), 2 min, 10:55
Overtime
(no penalties)
Power Play
Green Bay –0/5
Tri-City – 1/6
Shots
Green Bay: 6, 12, 3, 2 = Total: 24
Tri-City: 20, 11, 20, 6 = Total: 57
Saves
Green Bay – Jason Pawloski – 54/57
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 20/23