SIOUX CITY, Ia. – The shootout tandem of Chris Wilkie and Cody Milan propelled the Tri-City Storm (26-11-5) to a 3-2 win over the Sioux City Musketeers (28-11-4) on Saturday night at the Tyson Events Center.
Wilkie also scored his 24th goal of the season in the second period, while Garrett Gamez had a power play tally for his 11th of the year.
Storm netminder Jared Rutledge made 37 saves through regulation and overtime, before stopping both attempts he faced in the shootout to get the win.
The game was scoreless through the first 20 minutes, but Tri-City earned a power play with five seconds to go in the frame that carried over to the middle period.
Just 49 seconds into the second, Wilkie blasted a puck past Musketeers’ goalie Collin Olson to make it 1-0. It was the second power play goal of the weekend for Wilkie, who continues to lead the USHL with 13 goals on the man-advantage.
Sioux City tied the game 1-1 at 12:54 of the period with a power play goal of their own by Neal Pionk.
1:05 later, Gamez put the Storm in front 2-1 with another power play goal.
Tri-City forward Mason Appleton had the first assist on both tallies.
After Sioux City’s Joel Janatuinen hit the crossbar on a penalty shot at 16:06, the Musketeers re-tied the game at 2-2 on a goal by Robert Carpenter at18:11.
In the second period there was a combined total of 14 penalties, including a double minor to Tri-City’s Joel Herbert for checking from behind, a major head contact penalty to Sioux City’s Jake Durflinger and a flight between Durflinger and Mattias Goransson.
The game stayed even through the third period and overtime and led to the Storm’s sixth shootout victory of the year.
Tri-City gained one point on the Musketeers in the Western Conference, and sits in second place with 57 total points. Sioux City is the top team in the USHL, earning 60 points in 43 games.
Next week the Storm will take on the Lincoln Stars in a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday, before heading back to Sioux City for a Sundayafternoon battle. Friday and Saturday’s games start at 7:05 p.m., while Sunday’s contest gets underway at 3:05.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Wade Allison, along with defenseman Gordi Myer and goaltender Alec Dillon…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
(no scoring)
2nd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Mason Appleton, Bobby Nardella) 0:49
Sioux City – Neal Pionk (power play) (Adam Johnson, Robert Carpenter) 12:54
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Mason Appleton) 13:59
Sioux City – Robert Carpenter (power play) (Joe Snively, Jake Ryczek) 18:11
3rd Period
(no scoring)
Overtime
(no scoring)
PENALTIES
1st Period
Sioux City – Jacob Wilson – (Holding), 2 min, 19:55
2nd Period
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 3:11
Sioux City – Jake Montgomery – (Hooking), 2 min, 4:33
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Checking From Behind), 4 min, 10:51
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Checking From Behind) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 10:51
Sioux City – Sam Kurker – (Slashing), 2 min, 12:32
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (High Sticking), 2 min, 12:41
Sioux City – Joel Janatuinen – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 13:55
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Head Contact), 5 min, 16:53
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Head Contact) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 16:53
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Fighting), 5 min, 16:53
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Fighting), 5 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 16:53
3rd Period
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 7:27
Overtime
(no penalties)
Power Play
Tri-City – 2/4
Sioux City – 2/6
Shots
Tri-City: 8, 10, 6, 1 = Total: 25
Sioux City: 10, 16, 10, 3 = Total: 39
Saves
Tri-City – Jared Rutledge – 37/39
Sioux City – Collin Olson – 23/25