OMAHA, Neb. – Conner Valesano’s two goals were enough for the Tri-City Storm to defeat the Omaha Lancers 2-1 in Game 1 of the USHL’s Western Conference Semifinal at the Ralston Arena on Tuesday night.

Storm goaltender Alec Dillon made 25 saves to earn the victory in a defensive game between the two in-state rivals. Defensemen Mattias Goransson and Vince Pedrie each had assists on Valesano’s goals.

Valesano gave Tri-City the lead in the opening period, scoring the first goal of the playoff season on a face-off win. The Duluth, Minn. native won the draw back to Goransson for a shot to the net and got in position to deflect it past Omaha goaltender Kris Oldham to give the Storm a 1-0 lead after the first period.

The center then extended the lead in the middle period, scoring as his team finished killing off a penalty. The infraction had been to Pedrie for slashing. As the defenseman exited the box, the puck was shot wide of the Tri-City net by Omaha, with the rebound caroming right to Pedrie in neutral ice.

Pedrie, a Penn State commit, found Valesano on the left wing with a pass, and the forward unleashed a quick wrist shot over Oldham’s left shoulder and into the top corner of the net.

The Lancers got on the board with a tally from Anthony Angello at 15:00 of the second to make it 2-1.

But the two Valesano goals were enough for the Storm to hold off Omaha, holding the Lancers to just five shots in a scoreless third period.

Oldham stopped 21 shots for Omaha, while the Lancers outshot Tri-City 26-23.

The Western Conference Semifinal series continues on Thursday with Game 2 from Kearney at the Viaero Event Center. Game time is at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Matthew Freytag and Nolan Aibel, along with defenseman Jason Krych…

 

SCORING SUMMARY

 

1st Period
Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Mattias Goransson) 6:49

2nd Period

Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Vince Pedrie) 5:59
Omaha – Anthony Angello (Louie Rowe, Brendan Smith) 15:00

 

3rd Period
(no scoring)

PENALTIES

 

1st Period
Omaha – Nash Worden – (Roughing), 2 min, 4:37

2nd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Roughing), 2 min, 2:32
Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Roughing), 2 min, 2:32
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Roughing), 2 min, 3:02
Omaha – Steven Spinner – (Roughing), 2 min, 3:02
Tri-City – Vince Pedrie – (Slashing), 2 min, 3:51
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 6:21
Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Holding), 2 min, 12:52
Omaha – Steven Spinner – (Slashing), 2 min, 16:55

3rd Period
(no penalties)

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/3

Omaha – 0/2

Shots

Tri-City: 9, 11, 3 = Total: 23
Omaha: 7, 14, 5 = Total: 26

Saves
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 25/26
Omaha – Kris Oldham – 21/23