KEARNEY, Neb. – In front of a sell out crowd of 4,256, the Tri-City Storm (25-11-5) scored three goals in the opening period and held on to defeat the Omaha Lancers (22-13-5) by a score of 5-1 on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Forward Nick Master scored twice in the win, while captain Garrett Gamez had a goal and an assist and defenseman Bobby Nardella had three helpers.

Alec Dillon started the game between the pipes for the Storm, but was forced to leave midway through the second period due to injury. Jared Rutledge shut the door in relief, preserving the early Tri-City lead. Both netminders finished the game with 13 saves.

Storm forward Chris Wilkie opened the scoring at 7:08 of the first, scoring his 24th goal of the season on the power play with a shot through traffic that got by Omaha goalie Zach Driscoll. Assists on the tally went to Mason Appleton and Nardella.

Wilkie now leads the USHL with 12 power play goals on the season.

Omaha tied the game at 1-1 with a power play goal of their own by Anthony Angello at 12:09, but it was the only offense the Lancers could muster on the night.

Tri-City took the lead when Master scored his first of the game just over two minutes after the Lancers had found the equalizer. The Broomall, Penn. native finished off a perfect passing play from Gamez and Nardella to make it 2-1 Storm.

Later in the period, Gamez scored his 10th goal of the year with assists from Appleton and Nardella. The defenseman started the play by intercepting a pass in neutral ice and moving into the Omaha zone. After finding Appleton, the Green Bay, Wis. native had room to shoot, but elected to pass down low to Gamez, who tapped the puck in for the score.

Master gave Tri-City insurance in the middle period, scoring his second of the night and 15th of the season unassisted on a breakaway.

Storm forward Kyle Eastman sealed the victory with an unassisted empty net goal late in the third period. The tally was the Angola, N.Y. native’s second of the season.

With the win, the Storm have a home record of 15-3-2 in 20 contests at the Viaero Event Center this season.

Tri-City still has hold of second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 55 total points. They remain four points behind first-place Sioux City.

The Storm will finish their weekend with a game against the Musketeers at the Tyson Event Center on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Jake Wahlin, along with defenseman Gordi Myer…

 

SCORING SUMMARY

 

1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Bobby Nardella, Mason Appleton) 7:08
Omaha – Anthony Angello (power play) (unassisted) 12:09
Tri-City – Nick Master (Garrett Gamez, Bobby Nardella) 14:33
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Mason Appleton, Bobby Nardella) 17:48

2nd Period

Tri-City – Nick Master (unassisted) 3:09

 

3rd Period
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (empty net) (unassisted) 16:22

PENALTIES

 

1st Period
Omaha – Shane Gersich – (Slashing), 2 min, 7:00
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Boarding), 2 min, 10:45
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Head Contact), 2 min, 14:51
Omaha – Drew Best – (Hooking), 2 min, 17:35

2nd Period

Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Holding), 2 min, 1:00
Omaha – Nick Rivera – (Charging), 2 min, 9:57
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Hooking), 2 min, 9:57
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 10:38
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:04
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:04
Omaha – Hank Crone – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 14:37
Omaha – Hank Crone – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 14:37

3rd Period
Omaha – Michael Bigelbach – (Tripping), 2 min, 1:35
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 3:00
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Holding), 2 min, 4:59
Omaha – Brian Williams – (Fighting), 5 min, 13:35
Omaha – Brian Williams – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:35
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Fighting), 5 min, 13:35
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:35

Power Play

Omaha – 1/5

Tri-City – 2/5

Shots

Omaha: 12, 9, 6 = Total: 27
Tri-City: 10, 9, 3 = Total: 22

Saves
Omaha – Zach Driscoll – 17/21
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 13/14, Jared Rutledge – 13/13