KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm’s first line of Nick Master, Dan Labosky and Chris Wilkie combined for 10 points and were the difference on Friday night in a 5-3 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms at the Viaero Event Center.
Master led the way with a hat trick, while Labosky had a goal and assists on all of Master’s tallies. Wilkie had a goal in the second period, as well as two assists.
Tri-City didn’t take long to strike and Master gave his team a 1-0 lead with his first tally of the evening at 1:15. Wilkie got the puck to the center in front of the net and the Broomall, Penn. native was in the perfect spot, allowing the puck to bounce into the net off his skate. Labosky picked up the second assist on the goal.
Less than a minute later however, the Phantoms tied the game on Maxim Letunov’s 12th goal of the year from Kiefer Sherwood.
Youngstown took a lead at 7:24 of the opening period when Sherwood scored his first of the night to make it 2-1.
In the middle period, Tri-City scored twice in just over four minutes to retake the lead. First, while killing a penalty to Joel Herbert, Labosky found the back of the net for the first time this season in his third game back with the team. Conner Valesano moved the puck up ice and created the chance before Labosky hustled to the rebound and beat Youngstown goaltender Chris Birdsall.
Then, just over two minutes later, Wilkie deflected a Mason Appleton shot past Birdsall for his 13th goal of the year. Defenseman Kevin Kerr was given the third assist on the tally that gave Tri-City a 3-2 lead.
Sherwood re-tied the game at 6:02 of the period with his second goal of the night and the game entered the third period tied at 3-3.
On his first shift of the final period, Master scored twice to complete the hat trick, giving Tri-City the first two-goal advantage of the night.
Labosky had the first assist on both goals, setting Master up in front of the net to earn his second and third assists on the night.
The hat trick is the 23rd in Tri-City Storm history, and the first since forward Joel L’Esperance scored three against Youngstown a year ago on Dec. 13, 2013.
Tri-City outshot Youngstown 31-21 in the game. Storm netminder Alec Dillon made 18 saves to earn the win.
The two teams will battle once more on Saturday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. to complete their season series.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez, Kyle Eastman, and Chase Berger along with defenseman Bobby Nardella…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Nick Master (Chris Wilkie, Dan Labosky) 1:15
Youngstown – Maxim Letunov (Kiefer Sherwood) 2:06
Youngstown – Kiefer Sherwood (Josh Melnick, Kris Myllari) 7:24
2nd Period
Tri-City – Dan Labosky (short-handed) (Conner Valesano) 1:49
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Mason Appleton, Kevin Kerr) 4:04
Youngstown – Kiefer Sherwood (Maxim Letunov) 6:02
3rd Period
Tri-City – Nick Master (Dan Labosky, Chris Wilkie) 1:11
Tri-City – Nick Master (Dan Labosky, Kevin Kerr) 1:42
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Gordi Myer – (Interference), 2 min, 3:06
Youngstown – Bryan Lemos – (Hooking), 2 min, 9:43
Youngstown – Maxim Letunov – (High Sticking), 2 min, 14:43
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – (Roughing), 2 min, 15:20
2nd Period
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Head Contact) 2 min, 0:18
Youngstown – Tommy Parran – (Hooking), 2 min, 8:35
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Charging), 2 min, 8:35
Youngstown – Ryan Lomberg – (Head Contact), 2 min, 13:32
Youngstown – Taylor Best – (Roughing), 2 min, 16:54
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Slashing), 2 min, 16:54
3rd Period
(no scoring)
Power Play
Youngstown – 0/3
Tri-City – 0/3
Shots
Youngstown: 10, 3, 8 = Total: 30
Tri-City: 9, 15, 7 = Total: 31
Saves
Youngstown – Chris Birdsall – 26/31
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 18/21