KEARNEY, Neb. – Five goals from five different players propelled the Tri-City Storm (9-4-3) to a 5-2 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers (9-6-2) and into second place in the USHL’s Western Conference on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.
Storm captain Garrett Gamez tallied a goal and an assist for his team in the victory, while defenseman Mattias Goransson recorded two assists and Kevin Kerr scored his first of the season.
Tri-City netminder Blake Weyrick made 21 saves to earn his first win of the year and the Storm outshot Des Moines 41-23 in the game.
Three first period goals put Tri-City in front early and the team never looked back. Forward Chris Wilkie opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the year at 7:12 of the opening period.
Gamez then added a power play goal to make it 2-0 at 16:55. The recent Providence College commit deflected a shot from defenseman Tory Dello by Bucs’ netminder Ryan Ruck for his fifth strike of the season. Goransson picked up the second assist on the tally.
Just 1:10 later, forward Nolan Aibel scored his second goal of the year, with assists from forward Chase Hatcher and defenseman Jalen Schulz.
The Storm widened their lead to 5-0 in the second period with goals from Kerr and forward Cody Milan. Kerr got his first of the year with Kyle Eastman screening Ruck in front on a pass from defensive partner Cameron Spicer.
Milan scored the first short-handed goal of the year for Tri-City, his third tally on the year. The forward took the puck into the Des Moines’ end on the backhand, and lifted it over Ruck perfectly, making it a five-goal advantage for the Storm.
The Buccaneers scored twice in the final period to make it 5-2 on goals by forward Nikita Pavlychev and defenseman Alec Rauhauser.
The Storm now head to Sioux City to take on the Musketeers for the first time this season on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Tri-City returns to the Viaero Event Center on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in a matchup with the Lincoln Stars.
Notes: The Storm scratched defensemen Gordi Myer and Jason Krych. Forward Joel Herbert was also scratched, serving a one-game suspension…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Jake Wahlin, Chase Berger) 7:12
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Tory Dello, Mattias Goransson) 16:55
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel (Chase Hatcher) 18:05
2nd Period
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr (Cameron Spicer, Garrett Gamez) 14:37
Tri-City – Cody Milan (short-handed) (Mattias Goransson) 16:45
3rd Period
Des Moines – Nikita Pavlychev (power play) (Georgy Gorodetsky, Alec Rauhauser) 9:22
Des Moines – Alec Rauhauser (Tanner Karty) 16:29
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Interference), 2 min, 0:56
Des Moines – Chandler Lindstrand – (Interference), 2 min, 15:21
2nd Period
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Slashing), 2 min, 3:48
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Holding), 2 min, 7:29
Tri-City – Wade Allison – (Holding), 2 min, 16:26
3rd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Boarding), 2 min, 8:38
Des Moines – Brennan Sanford – (Slashing), 2 min, 11:43
Power Play
Des Moines – 1/5
Tri-City – 1/2
Shots
Des Moines: 9, 7, 7 = Total: 23
Tri-City: 17, 12, 12 = Total: 41
Saves
Des Moines – Ryan Ruck – 36/41
Tri-City – Blake Weyrick – 21/23