KEARNEY, Neb. – Nick Master scored twice and the Tri-City Storm (20-10-5) got their first win of the season against the Sioux Falls Stampede (18-14-4) by a score of 4-2 at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night.

The victory was the sixth straight win for Tri-City, which is now the longest winning streak for the club since March of 2005.

Master now has a goal streak of three games, scoring five different times during the run. The UMass-Lowell commit has 12 tallies and 21 points on the season.

Forward Chris Wilkie also scored for the Storm in the win, and is currently third in the USHL with 22 goals.

Chase Berger gave Tri-City the early 1-0 lead, scoring his sixth goal of the season on the first shot of the game just 1:28 into the first period.

Sioux Falls responded with a goal by defenseman Matt Nuttle at 8:31 of the first, tying the game at 1-1 before Master scored his first of the night to give the Storm a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.

The Broomall, Penn. native’s first was set up by both Garrett Gamez and Kevin Kerr. First, Gamez brought the puck in the zone and stopped in the corner. The Storm’s captain then found Kerr open at the point. Kerr, also a Pennsylvania native, shot the puck toward the net with Master open in front for a redirection over the left shoulder of Stampede goalie Stefanos Lekkas and into the net.

Wilkie made it 3-1 in the second, picking up the puck in the Sioux Falls end on a broken play and beating Lekkas. Storm defenseman Mattias Goransson and forward Dan Labosky each recorded assists on the goal.

But the Stampede got back in the game with a redirection goal of their own from team captain Ryan Schwalbe to make it 3-2 in the middle period.

The game stayed at 3-2 until Master gave the Storm the insurance they were looking for, scoring his second of the game at 11:36 of the final frame.

This time it was forward Cody Milan who hit Master in front and the center did the rest of the work, deking out Lekkas and scoring on the backhand. Forward Matthew Freytag was credited with the second assist on the final goal of the game.

Storm netminder Jared Rutledge earned the win with 17 saves, his sixth win of the year and his fourth consecutive victory.

Lekkas took the loss for Sioux Falls, making 31 saves in defeat.

Tri-City remains in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 45 total points.

The Storm are back in action Tuesday night when they host the Lincoln Stars at the Viaero Event Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Kyle Eastman along with defenseman Jason Krych…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Tri-City – Chase Berger (Dan Labosky) 1:28
Sioux Falls – Matt Nuttle (Cooper Marody, Clint Lewis) 8:31
Tri-City – Nick Master (Kevin Kerr, Garrett Gamez) 12:45

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Mattias Goransson, Dan Labosky) 5:46
Sioux Falls – Ryan Schwalbe (Matt Nuttle, Lawton Courtnall) 8:27

3rd Period
Tri-City – Nick Master (Cody Milan, Matthew Freytag) 11:36

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Chaz Switzer – (Slashing), 2 min, 16:41

2nd Period

Tri-City – Cameron Spicer – (Roughing), 2 min, 3:37
Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins – (Roughing), 2 min, 3:37
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Roughing), 4 min, 5:04
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows – (Roughing), 4 min, 5:04
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:32
Sioux Falls – Matt Nuttle – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:55

3rd Period
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct), 10 min, 5:16
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Roughing), 4 min, 5:16
Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins – (Charging), 2 min, 5:16
Sioux Falls – Clint Lewis – (Roughing), 4 min, 5:16
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Slashing), 2 min, 6:12
Sioux Falls – Lukas Buchta – (Tripping), 2 min, 19:54

Power Play

Sioux Falls – 0/2

Tri-City – 0/4

Shots

Sioux Falls: 6, 7, 6 = Total: 19
Tri-City: 13, 12, 10 = Total: 35

Saves
Sioux Falls – Stefanos Lekkas – 31/35
Tri-City – Jared Rutledge – 17/19