KEARNEY, Neb. – Zach Yon scored twice and the Fargo Force (24-26-6) used a three-goal second period to defeat the Tri-City Storm (34-15-6) 4-2 at the Viaero Event Center on Friday night.
Kevin Kerr had a goal and an assist in the loss for Tri-City, while Garrett Gamez scored a short-handed goal for his 15th tally of the season.
After a scoreless first period in which the Storm outshot Fargo 12-8, Yon made it 1-0 at 7:04 of the middle period with assists from Justin Baudry and Brody Stevens.
Yon then notched his second of the game eight minutes later at 15:11 on the power play to put Fargo ahead 2-0. The tally was set up by a perfect passing play which gave Denis Smirnov and Alec Marsh assists on the goal.
With time running out in the second period and the Storm on a power play, Fargo forward Dixon Bowen raced into the Tri-City end on a breakaway. Bowen was taken down on the play and awarded a penalty shot. The forward converted with a wrist shot over Storm netminder Alec Dillon’s glove to give the Force a 3-0 lead at the end of the middle period.
Tri-City mounted a comeback in the third, starting when Kerr scored on the power play just 1:10 into the final frame. Kerr’s shot found the back of the net after a cross-ice feed from forward Cody Milan found him open at the left point. Chase Berger, who provided the screen in front on the goal, was awarded the second assist on the play.
With less than six minutes remaining in regulation, Gamez found the back of the net late in a Fargo power play on a rebound in front to make it 3-2. The initial shot was taken by Mason Appleton, who was led in to the offensive zone by Kerr. The multi-point game was Kerr’s second in his past three games and sixth of the season.
Fargo goaltender Mathias Israelsson made 39 saves to earn the victory, while Dillon stopped 23 shots in the loss for Tri-City. The Storm outshot Fargo 41-27 in the game.
Tri-City is currently in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 74 points. Five games remain in the regular season and the Storm have clinched a spot in the USHL’s Clark Cup Playoffs.
The Storm and Force will finish their four-game season series in Kearney on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Matthew Freytag, Wade Allison and Joel Herbert, along with defensemen Tory Dello and Mattias Goransson…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
(no scoring)
2nd Period
Fargo – Zach Yon (unassisted) 7:04
Fargo – Zach Yon (Denis Smirnov, Alec Marsh) 15:11
Fargo – Dixon Bowen (penalty shot) 19:59
3rd Period
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr (power play) (Cody Milan, Chase Berger) 1:10
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (short-handed) (Mason Appleton, Kevin Kerr) 14:26
Fargo – Alec Marsh (empty net) (Denis Smirnov, Mathias Israelsson) 19:01
PENALTIES
1st Period
(no penalties)
2nd Period
Fargo – CJ Hayes – (High Sticking), 2 min, 2:22
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Hooking), 2 min, 14:08
Fargo – Chuck Bennis – (Abuse of Officials) (Misconduct), 10 min, 15:47
Fargo – Byron Pool – (Abuse of Officials) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 15:47
Fargo – Sean Mostrom – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 16:22
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 16:22
Fargo – Christian Cakebread – (Boarding), 2 min, 19:07
3rd Period
Fargo – Jake McLaughlin – (Hooking), 2 min, 11:58
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Hooking), 2 min, 12:30
Power Play
Fargo – 1/2
Tri-City – 1/3
Shots
Fargo: 8, 11, 8 = Total: 27
Tri-City: 12, 9, 20 = Total: 41
Saves
Fargo – Mathias Israelsson – 39/41
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 23/26