KEARNEY, Neb. – A late goal from Chris Wilkie forced overtime, but the Tri-City Storm (13-7-4) fell to the Omaha Lancers (11-8-4) 4-3 when Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson netted his second goal of the game in the extra session at the Ralson Arena on Friday night.

Prior to Wilkie’s late equalizer, Storm goals were scored by defenseman Jalen Schulz and Jake Wahlin.

Storm netminder Alec Dillon made 25 saves in the loss, while his counterpart Kris Oldham earned the win with 20 saves of his own.

Omaha took a 1-0 lead early on when Forsbacka-Karlsson scored his first of the evening off a pass from Steven Spinner at 12:05 of the first period.

Tri-City evened the game at 1-1 just over three minutes later on Schulz’s first goal of the year from defenseman Tory Dello and forward Matthew Freytag.

The Storm then took the lead in the middle period when Wahlin found a loose rebound in front and scored his second goal in as many games to make it 2-1. Forward Conner Valesano picked up an assist on the tally, his third consecutive game with a helper.

In the final period, the Lancers tied the game at 7:54 on a goal by Nick Rivera and then took the lead when Louie Rowe found a loose puck in front and slipped it under Dillon.

Forced to pull Dillon for an extra attacker, Wilkie scored his 14th of the season with one minute to go in regulation to even the score at 4-4. Defensemen Mattias Goransson and Kevin Kerr recorded assists on the goal.

But early on in overtime, Forsbacka-Karlsson found an opportunity and beat Dillon with the winning goal.

Tri-City now enters the league’s winter break with 30 points, and is in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference.

The Storm return to the Viaero Event Center on Dec. 27 to face Sioux City at 3:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez and Kyle Eastman along with defenseman Bobby Nardella. Forward Joel Herbert was also scratched, serving a league suspension…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Omaha – Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (Steven Spinner) 12:05
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz (Tory Dello, Matthew Freytag) 15:35

2nd Period

Tri-City – Jake Wahlin (Conner Valesano) 8:59

3rd Period
Omaha – Nick Rivera (Jimmy Schuldt, Matt Joyaux) 7:54
Omaha – Louie Rowe (Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Matt Joyaux) 14:10
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (extra attacker) (Mattias Goransson, Kevin Kerr) 19:00

Overtime
Omaha – Jakob Korsbacka-Karlsson (Niklas Folin) 1:23

PENALTIES

1st Period

Omaha – Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson – (Interference), 2 min, 4:39
Omaha – Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson – (Holding), 2 min, 18:30

2nd Period

Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Hooking), 2 min, 6:38
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Slashing), 2 min, 10:53
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Boarding), 2 min, 14:08
Omaha – Michael Wilson – (Fighting) (Instigator), 2 min, 14:08
Omaha – Michael Wilson – (Fighting), 5 min, 14:08
Omaha – Michael Wilson – (Fighting) (Game Misconduct) 10 min, 14:08
Omaha – Bench Minor – (Illegal Substitution), 2 min, 19:18

3rd Period

Tri-City – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 0:52
Omaha – Jake Henderson – (Fighting), 5 min, 3:31
Omaha – Jake Henderson – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 3:31
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Fighting), 5 min, 3:31
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 3:31
Tri-City – Austen Long – (Checking From Behind), 4 min, 3:56
Tri-City – Austen Long – (Checking From Behind) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 3:56
Omaha – Brian Williams – (Boarding), 2 min, 7:36
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (High Sticking), 2 min, 8:33
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Roughing), 2 min, 17:52
Omaha – Michael Bigelbach – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:52

Overtime
(no penalties)

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/5

Omaha – 0/6

Shots

Tri-City: 8, 10, 5, 0 = Total: 23
Omaha: 11, 6, 11, 1 = Total: 29

Saves
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 25/29
Omaha – Kris Oldham – 20/23