KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (16-21-2) won in comeback fashion again Friday night at the Viaero Event Center, capturing game one of a weekend series with the Des Moines Buccaneers (14-20-3) 5-3.
Chris Wilkie stayed hot, scoring a goal to extend his point-streak to nine games, while Dan Labosky converted a penalty shot late in the third period to seal the victory.
The Storm have won their last three games after trailing earlier in the contest.
Wilkie, the North Dakota commit who was named USHL Player of the Week last week, found the back of the net first to give the Storm a 1-0 lead. The goal came on a crisp pass from forward Ryan McMurphy. The Storm took their lead into the first intermission.
Jack Jenkins answered back early in the second period for Des Moines to tie the game at 1-1.
After a chippy end to the second period, the Storm and Buccaneers entered the third tied at one apiece.
Six minutes into the third period Buccaneer defensemen Garret Cockerill, scored a power play goal by sneaking the puck past Hayden Lavigne to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Then with six minutes remaining in the game, the St. Cloud, Minn. native Austin Poganski rocketed a power play goal into the net, with assists coming from Garrett Gamez and Conner Valesano.
Poganski’s goal was his eighth of the year with a man-advantage, which leads the team.
With just 2:01 remaining on the clock, Labosky was dragged down while on a breakaway. The Colorado College commit converted on the ensuing penalty shot for his fourth goal of the season. The tally gave Tri-City the lead and momentum for the final minutes.
Des Moines pulled goaltender Ryan Ruck in the closing seconds in an effort to get back in the game. Defenseman Tory Dello took advantage, shooting from center ice on the open net for his second goal of the season.
Moments later, after a turnover by Des Moines, forward Chase Burger also made the most of an empty net, scoring his eighth goal of the season.
In the closing seconds with Tri-City in control, Cockerill scored his second goal of the game, but when time ran out, the scoreboard read a 5-3 Storm victory.
Lavigne won his third consecutive and fourth overall, finishing the evening with 23 saves. Ruck made 33 stops in the loss for the Buccaneers.
Tri-City will surge into February after finishing the month of January on a four game winning streak. The Storm had an overall record of 7-4 in the first month of 2014.
Head coach Jim Hulton’s boys are back in action Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Viaero Event Center, looking to sweep the weekend series with Des Moines.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Nick Hutchison, along with defensemen Cutler Martin and Sean Lang. Forward Drew Mayer was also scratched, serving a suspension.…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Ryan McMurphy, Dan Labosky), 19:10
2nd Period
Des Moines – Jack Jenkins (Jarkko Parikka, Jimi Kuronen), 2:31
3rd Period
Des Moines – Garret Cockerill (power play) (Willem Nong-Lambert, Tanner Karty), 6:44
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Garrett Gamez, Conner Valesano), 14:08
Tri-City – Dan Labosky (penalty shot), 17:59
Tri-City – Tory Dello (empty net) (Austin Poganski), 18:47
Tri-City – Chase Berger (empty net) (unassisted), 19:17
Des Moines – Garret Cockerill (Marcel Godbout, Tanner Karty), 19:41
PENALTIES
1st Period
Des Moines – Willem Nong-Lambert, (Slashing), 2 min, 5:10
Des Moines – Danny Elser, (Charging), 2 min, 19:18
2nd Period
Des Moines – Connor Schmidt, (Boarding), 2 min, 4:28
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez, (Checking from Behind), 2 min, 4:45
Des Moines – Josh Couturier, (Interference), 2 min, 15:28
Des Moines – Josh Couturier – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:59
Des Moines – Tanner Karty – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:59
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:59
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:59
3rd Period
Tri-City – Thomas Aldworth – (Tripping), 2 min, 5:56
Des Moines – Connor Schmidt – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 7:08
Tri-City – Joey DiBenedetto – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 7:08
Tri-City – Joey DiBenedetto – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 7:08
Des Moines – Josh Couturier (Slashing), 2 min, 13:51
Tri-City – Tory Dello (High Sticking), 2 min, 15:57
Power Play
Tri-City – 1/5
Des Moines –1/4
Shots
Tri-City: 16, 9, 13 = Total: 38
Des Moines: 10, 6, 10 = Total: 26
Saves
Tri-City – Hayden Lavigne – 23/26
Des Moines – Ryan Ruck – 33/36
North Platte – The North Platte Community College Softball team signed five players to Letter of Intents on Friday night on campus. The five players were Jessi Alexander of Denver, Colo., Maddie Bosco of Canon City, Colo., Brittney Curtis of Omaha, Caroline Motis of Geneva and Sara Villalobos of Skiatook, Okla.
