KEARNEY, Neb. – Second period goals from forwards Chris Wilkie and Wade Allison pushed the Tri-City Storm (14-7-4) to a 3-1 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers (16-9-1) on Saturday afternoon at the Viaero Event Center.

The matchup featured the top two teams in the USHL’s Western Conference. With the victory, Tri-City has now won five straight games at home, and has secured points in nine straight contests in Kearney.

Storm netminder Jared Rutledge made 25 saves in his second appearance with Tri-City to get the win.

In the first frame, Tri-City outshot the Musketeers 11-4, but neither team was able to break through and get on the board.

But the second period saw two tallies from the Storm forwards and the team never looked back.

First, Wilkie scored on a deflection in front just 48 seconds into the frame for his 15th tally of the season, which is third-best in the league. Labosky was credited with the assist on the first goal of the game to make it 1-0.

Then later in the period, a perfect passing play from defenseman Mattias Goransson to Jake Wahlin sprung Allison on a breakaway. The forward deked and slipped the puck between the legs of Sioux City netminder Cam Gornet to make it 2-0.

Adam Johnson scored the only Musketeer goal of the game 3:18 into the third to make it 2-1, but Tri-City limited opportunities for the remainder of the game to keep themselves in front.

Storm defenseman Jalen Schulz sealed the win, scoring an empty net goal with 9 seconds left on the clock.

Both teams came up empty on their power play chances, with Sioux City earning five opportunities to Tri-City’s three.

The Storm are now one point behind the Musketeers for the top spot in the west.

Tri-City will have a chance to move up in the standings when they head to Omaha Sunday to take on the Lancers at the Ralston Arena. Game time is at5:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez and Kyle Eastman along with defensemen Gordi Myer and Tory Dello. Forward Joel Herbert was also scratched, serving a league suspension…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

(no scoring)

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Dan Labosky) 0:48
Tri-City – Wade Allison (Jake Wahlin, Mattias Goransson) 15:05

3rd Period
Sioux City – Adam Johnson (Ryan Zuhlsdorf, Neal Pionk) 3:18
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz (empty net) (Mason Appleton, Daniel Labosky) 19:51

PENALTIES

1st Period

Sioux City – Sam Kurker – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:03
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 18:01

2nd Period

Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Roughing), 2 min, 1:45
Sioux City – Robert Carpenter – (Roughing), 2 min, 1:45
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Slashing), 2 min, 6:43
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Tripping), 2 min, 9:35
Sioux City – Matt Berkovitz – (Holding), 2 min, 12:56
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (High Sticking), 2 min, 17:36
Tri-Ciy – Chase Berger – (Charging), 2 min, 19:58

3rd Period

Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Roughing), 2 min, 4:34
Sioux City – Joel Janatuinen – (Roughing), 4 min, 4:34

Power Play

Sioux City – 0/5

Tri-City – 0/3

Shots

Sioux City: 4, 10, 12 = Total: 26
Tri-City: 11, 14, 6 = Total: 31

Saves
Sioux City – Cam Gornet – 28/30
Tri-City – Jared Rutledge – 25/26