KEARNEY, Neb. – It took two different two-goal comebacks and a nine-round shootout, but the Tri-City Storm (7-3-2) defeated the Muskegon Lumberjacks (8-4-1) by a final score of 5-4 in their first meeting of the season at the Viaero Event Center on Friday night.
Tri-City got power play goals from defenseman Mattias Goransson and forward Chris Wilkie to tie the game in the second, and tallies from forward Conner Valesano and Bobby Nardella to complete their second comeback in the third.
The Storm never led in the game until the shootout-winner from forward Jake Wahlin despite registering 52 total shots on net, 48 of which were stopped by Muskegon goaltender Eric Schierhorn. The winner came in the ninth round of the skills competition, after Tri-City saw Wilkie, forward Cody Milan, and Valesano each convert earlier on.
Muskegon got goals from Griffen Molino and Matheson Iacopelli in the opening period, taking a 2-0 lead with them into the locker room after one.
But a major penalty to Lumberjack forward Jacob Coleman allowed the Storm five minutes on the power play, and Tri-City evened the game at 2-2.
Goransson had his second of the season from defenseman Kevin Kerr and Milan at 4:53 of the period, before Wilkie scored his eighth of the year from forwards Nick Master and Garrett Gamez at 5:31. Wilkie now leads the team in scoring, and has potted a power play goal in four consecutive games.
The Lumberjacks weren’t done however, and scored two power play goals of their own later in the second period. Forward Matej Paulovic notched his third of the season at 10:35 and Iacopelli picked up his second tally of the game at 12:56, bringing the Muskegon lead back to two goals, at 4-2.
Before the end of the middle frame, Valesano got his first goal of the year during 4-on-4 play, bringing the Storm to a one-goal deficit with 20 minutes to go.
Through the first two periods, there was a combined 82 penalty minutes between the two teams.
Nardella tied the game for Tri-City at 8:14 of the third with his second goal of the season on a perfect pass by Gamez, who had two helpers in the game.
Both sides had chances in the final minutes of regulation and overtime, but the score stayed even at 4-4 all the way to the shootout.
Storm netminder Alec Dillon made 28 saves and stayed strong in the shootout to record his seventh win of the season.
The two teams will complete their season series on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Wade Allison, Kyle Eastman, and Aleksi Ainali along with defenseman Gordi Myer.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Muskegon – Griffen Molino (Tom Marchin) 1:57
Muskegon – Matheson Iacopelli (power play) (David Keefer, Robbie DeMontis) 16:37
2nd Period
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson (power play) (Kevin Kerr, Cody Milan) 4:53
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Nick Master, Garrett Gamez) 5:31
Muskegon – Matej Paulovic (power play) (Joseph Cecconi, Garrett Hallford) 10:35
Muskegon – Matheson Iacopelli (power play) (Christian Wolanin, Matej Paulovic) 12:56
Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Kevin Kerr, Matthew Freytag) 16:00
3rd Period
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella (Garrett Gamez, Joel Herbert) 8:14
Overtime
(no scoring)
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (High Sticking), 2 min, 6:49
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 13:09
Muskegon – Jacob Coleman – (Checking From Behind), 4 min, 13:09
Muskegon – Jacob Coleman – (Checking From Behind) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 13:09
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (High Sticking), 2 min, 15:37
2nd Period
Muskegon – Keegan Ward – (Head Contact), 5 min, 3:38
Muskegon – Keegan Ward – (Head Contact) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 3:38
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Hooking), 2 min, 9:01
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Interference), 2 min, 11:30
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:48
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Fighting), 5 min, 14:19
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 14:19
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Charging), 5 min, 14:19
Muskegon – Kevin Dineen – (Fighting), 5 min, 14:19
Muskegon – Kevin Dineen – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 14:19
Muskegon – Christian Wolanin – (Holding), 2 min, 14:57
Muskegon – Tom Marchin – (Roughing), 2 min, 18:30
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Roughing), 2 min, 18:30
3rd Period
(no penalties)
Overtime
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Abuse of Officials) (Misconduct), 10 min, 3:17
Power Play
Muskegon – 3/7
Tri-City – 2/3
Shots
Muskegon: 8, 12, 9, 3 = Total: 32
Tri-City: 16, 15, 19, 2 = Total: 52
Saves
Muskegon – Eric Schierhorn – 48/52
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 28/32