SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Tri-City Storm (14-8-5) ended the year on the short end of a 3-1 game at the hands of the Sioux Falls Stampede (14-12-2)on Wednesday night in their first ever game at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Chase Berger had the lone Storm goal of the game, while Tri-City netminder Jared Rutledge made 18 saves in his third start with the team.

Sioux Falls got on the board early with a goal from Kieffer Bellows at 3:50 of the opening period to take a 1-0 lead and after the first 20 minutes, controlled the game, leading Tri-City in shots on goal 10-4.

But the Storm got going in the second and tied the game on Berger’s fourth goal of the season. Tri-City forward Wade Allison picked up the only assist on the tally, which was his fourth point of the year.

Despite outshooting the Stampede 13-7 in the frame, two late goals got Sioux Falls ahead with a 3-1 lead heading to the third period.

In the final period the Storm once again had their chances, but couldn’t head Stampede netminder Stefanos Lekkas.

Lekkas finished with 27 saves on the night, including 11 in the third period, to earn his team the win.

The Storm will celebrate the beginning of 2015 in Sioux Falls, staying in town to take on the Stampede on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

Tri-City returns home to face Omaha in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center this Saturday, also at 7:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez, Conner Valesano and Kyle Eastman along with defenseman Tory Dello

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows (Cooper Marody) 3:50

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chase Berger (Wade Allison) 3:45
Sioux Falls – Logan O’Connor (Troy Loggins, Aaron Herdt) 14:01
Sioux Falls – Dillon Eichstadt (Ryan Schwalbe, Jack Suter) 16:36

3rd Period
(no scoring)

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Jared Rutledge – (Tripping), 2 min, 7:16
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Tripping), 2 min, 12:28
Sioux Falls – Logan O’Connor – (Interference), 2 min, 13:02
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Tripping), 2 min, 14:19

2nd Period

Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Boarding), 2 min, 18:58
Sioux Falls – Cooper Marody – (Interference), 2 min, 19:49

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – Chaz Switzer – (Slashing), 2 min, 4:38
Sioux Falls – Joey Raats – (Roughing), 2 min, 17:08

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/3

Sioux Falls – 0/5

Shots

Tri-City: 4, 13, 11 = Total: 28
Sioux Falls: 10, 7, 4 = Total: 21

Saves
Tri-City – Jared Rutledge – 18/21
Sioux Falls – Stefanos Lekkas – 27/28