KEARNEY, Neb. – 13 different skaters registered a point for the Tri-City Storm (21-10-5) and the team put a total of 50 shots on net in a 6-1 rout of the Lincoln Stars (12-18-5) at the Viaero Event Center on Tuesday night.
Matthew Freytag led the way with two goals in the first period that were both assisted by captain Garrett Gamez, while Jake Wahlin, Mattias Goransson, Mason Appleton and Conner Valesano added tallies to put the game out of reach.
The six goals matched the highest offensive output for Tri-City this season. With the win, the club has also extended their longest winning streak of the year, which is now at seven games.
The Stars got ahead 1-0 in the first period when forward Ludvig Hoff poked a rebound past Storm netminder Alec Dillon.
But Dillon shut the door after the initial goal, finishing the night with 20 saves to earn the victory.
After falling behind early, Tri-City rattled off six straight goals and took control of the game. Freytag tied things up less than two minutes after Hoff’s goal, changing the momentum for good. Defenseman Cam Spicer put a shot on net from the point, but Lincoln goalie Cam Hackett couldn’t control the rebound, and Gamez found Freytag waiting in front for the loose puck.
On the duo’s next shift, Gamez found Freytag again, this time on a 2-on-1 moving into the Lincoln end. The Chino Hills, Calif. native centered the puck to Freytag, putting the puck in the perfect spot for the Wisconsin commit to beat Hackett.
Freytag now has 10 goals on the season, and joins Chris Wilkie and Nick Master as the third Storm forward with a double-digit goal total this season.
Tri-City opened up a two goal lead late in the first when Wahlin found the back of the net for the seventh time this season.
Goransson had the only tally of the second frame to make it 4-1, sneaking into the offensive end and taking a pass from Dan Labosky for his sixth tally of the year. Chase Berger picked up the second assist on the play.
In the third, Tri-City outshot Lincoln 20-9, continuing to control the game. Appleton got his ninth goal of the year at 7:05 of the final period from Joel Herbert and Cody Milan.
The final score of the game came from Valesano, who finished off a play with a wrist shot for his second goal of the year. Helpers on the final goal were given to Valesano’s linemates Wade Allison and Wahlin.
Tri-City remains in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 47 total points.
The Storm finish off a four-game homestand Saturday night when they host the Sioux Falls Stampede for Casino Night at the Viaero Event Center. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Kyle Eastman along with defenseman Jason Krych…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Lincoln – Ludvig Hoff (Michael Gillespie, Grant Jozefek) 8:28
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag (Garrett Gamez, Cameron Spicer) 10:24
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag (Garrett Gamez, Nick Master) 13:35
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin (unassisted) 18:39
2nd Period
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson (Dan Labosky, Chase Berger) 15:14
3rd Period
Tri-City – Mason Appleton (Joel Herbert, Cody Milan) 7:05
Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Wade Allison, Jake Wahlin) 16:40
PENALTIES
1st Period
(no penalties)
2nd Period
Lincoln – Dylan Woolf – (Fighting), 5 min, 1:34
Lincoln – Dylan Woolf – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 1:34
Tri-City – Gordi Myer – (Fighting), 5 min, 1:34
Tri-City – Gordi Myer – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 1:34
Tri-City – Gordi Myer – (Fighting) (Instigator), 2 min, 1:34
Lincoln – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 12:57
3rd Period
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Checking From Behind), 4 minutes, 7:40
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Checking From Behind) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 7:40
Power Play
Lincoln – 0/3
Tri-City – 0/1
Shots
Lincoln: 6, 6, 9 = Total: 21
Tri-City: 17, 13, 20 = Total: 50
Saves
Lincoln – Cam Hackett – 44/50
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 20/21
