KEARNEY, Neb. – A pair of Fargo Force (25-26-6) forwards scored their first goals of the season to defeat the Tri-City Storm (34-16-6) 2-1 at the Viaero Event Center on Friday night. The Force swept the weekend series with Tri-City, and claimed the season series three games to one.
Chris Wilkie had the lone goal for Tri-City in the loss on the power play, while Alec Dillon was on his toes all night, making 38 saves to keep his team in the game the whole way.
With the only assist on Wilkie’s goal, Storm defenseman Bobby Nardella broke the single season record for assists and points by a Tri-City blueliner, set by Chris Nathe during the 2002-03 season. The Notre Dame commit now has 29 assists and 38 points through 53 games on the year.
The Force opened the scoring just 4:38 into the game when Michael Babcock scored his first of the year, forcing a rebound past the goal line during a Fargo power play.
Wilkie got Tri-City even with his 32nd of the year at 13:56 of the middle frame, also on the power play. The forward’s goal total currently leads the USHL, as does his 15 man-advantage tallies.
But the game stayed tied at 1-1 through the rest of the second period and most of the third until Force forward Kyle Sylvester broke the tie with just2:18 left on the clock.
The Force outshot the Storm 40-27 in the game, with winning goaltender Robbie Beydoun making 25 saves in the victory.
Tri-City is currently in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 74 points. Four games remain in the regular season and the Storm have clinched a spot in the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs.
The Storm are back in action on Friday night in Sioux Falls, facing the Stampede at 7:05 p.m. They will complete their home schedule the following evening against Cedar Rapids at the Viaero Event Center at 7:05.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Matthew Freytag, Kyle Eastman and Nolan Aibel, along with defensemen Tory Dello and Mattias Goransson…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Fargo – Denis Smirnov (power play) (Michael Babcock, Mason Morelli) 4:38
2nd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Bobby Nardella) 13:56
3rd Period
Fargo – Kyle Sylvester (CJ Hayes, TJ Roo) 17:42
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 3:49
Fargo – Michael Babcock – (Interference), 2 min, 9:07
Fargo – Justin Baudry – (Roughing), 2 min, 9:07
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Roughing), 2 min, 9:07
Fargo – Austin Pooley – (Broken Stick), 2 min, 9:13
2nd Period
Fargo – Tim Faulkner – (Roughing), 2 min, 1:06
Fargo – Mason Morelli – (Slashing), 2 min, 7:17
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Roughing), 4 min, 7:17
Fargo – Tim Faulkner – (Roughing), 4 min, 7:17
Fargo – Tim Faulkner – (Continuing Altercation) (Misconduct), 10 min, 7:17
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Continuing Altercation) (Misconduct), 10 min, 7:17
Fargo – Jake McLaughlin – (High Sticking), 2 min, 12:26
Fargo – Jake McLaughlin – (Roughing), 2 min, 12:26
Fargo – Jake McLaughlin – (Continuing Altercation) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:26
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Roughing), 2 min, 12:26
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Continuing Altercation) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:26
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 15:08
3rd Period
(no penalties)
Power Play
Fargo – 1/2
Tri-City – 1/5
Shots
Fargo: 18, 8, 14 = Total: 40
Tri-City: 10, 13, 4 = Total: 27
Saves
Fargo – Robbie Beydoun – 26/27
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 38/40