OMAHA, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (9-7-3) failed to dig themselves out of an early hole and fell 4-2 to the Omaha Lancers (7-7-3) on Saturday night at the Ralston Arena.

Joel Herbert and Chris Wilkie each scored in the third period for Tri-City, while goaltender Alec Dillon returned to the lineup and made 18 saves.

Both teams had lots of chances early in the game, but there was no scoring in the opening period. Omaha netminder Hayden Hawkey got the start, but was forced to leave the game with an injury and was replaced by Kris Oldham.

The Lancers took control of the game with two goals in under a minute late in the second period. First, Drew Best scored on a short-handed breakaway, before Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson made it 2-0 just 34 seconds later at 17:22.

Omaha made it 3-0 early in the third period with a power play goal from Shane Gersich at 2:49.

Later in the frame, Herbert got the Storm on the board with his third tally of the year. Nick Master found the big forward in front, while Kyle Eastman picked up the second assist on the team’s first goal of the night.

Tri-City then made it a one-goal game when Wilkie found the back of the net on the power play at 14:34 of the final period. The goal was the Omaha native’s 11th of the season, and came with assists from defensemen Bobby Nardella and Mattias Goransson.

The Storm had a few chances to tie the game in the closing minutes, but couldn’t close the gap. Lancers’ forward Louie Rowe made it 4-2 with an empty net goal in the final minute of the game.

Oldham recorded the win in between the pipes for Omaha, making 13 saves in relief. The Lancers outshot the Storm 22-20 on the night.

Tri-City is back in action next Saturday in Dubuque against the Fighting Saints at 7:05 p.m. The Storm return to the Viaero Event Center on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in a matchup with the Lincoln Stars at 7:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez and Conner Valesano along with defenseman Cameron Spicer…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

(no scoring)

2nd Period

Omaha – Drew Best (short-handed) (Anthony Angello) 16:48
Omaha – Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (Jimmy Schuldt, Cal Foote) 17:22

3rd Period
Omaha – Shane Gersich (power play) (Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Brendan Smith) 2:49
Tri-City – Joel Herbert (Nick Master, Kyle Eastman) 12:25
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Bobby Nardella, Mattias Goransson) 14:34
Omaha – Louie Rowe (empty net) (Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Jake Henderson) 19:41

PENALTIES

1st Period

Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:37
Tri-City – Gordi Myer – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:37
Omaha – Jimmy Schuldt – (Slashing), 2 min, 11:47
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (Tripping), 2 min, 18:16
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (High Sticking), 2 min, 19:59

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Interference), 2 min, 7:13
Omaha – Jake Gingell – (High Sticking), 2 min, 15:01
Omaha – Drew Best – (Tripping), 2 min, 18:41

3rd Period

Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (High Sticking), 2 min, 2:38
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (Roughing), 2 min, 3:56
Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Roughing), 2 min, 3:56
Omaha – Michael Wilson – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 14:19

Power Play

Tri-City – 1/4

Omaha – 1/4

Shots

Tri-City: 6, 7, 7 = Total: 20
Omaha: 8, 8, 6 = Total: 22

Saves
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 18/21
Omaha – Hayden Hawkey – 5/5, Kris Oldham – 13/15