KEARNEY, Neb. – The Sioux Falls Stampede (21-11-2) withstood a late comeback from the Tri-City Storm (12-19-2) and held on to win 6-4 at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night.

Nolan Aibel scored his first career USHL goal, while Dan Labosky, Chris Wilkie and Garrett Gamez each recorded two assists for the Storm in the loss.

The Stampede took control of the game in the opening period, scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead and outshooting the injury plagued Storm 16-7. Veteran forwards C.J. Franklin and Dennis Kravchenko each scored power play goals in the first frame.

Tri-City cut the lead in half early on in the middle period, when Aibel found the back of the net for the first time in his 12th game in a Storm sweater. Gamez and Patrick Curry were each credited with an assist on the play.

But the Storm couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, giving Sioux Falls eight power plays in the first 40 minutes. The Stampede capitalized, scoring twice more on the power play, and once during a 4-on-4 situation.

After Dakota Joshua and Kravchenko had scored on the power play, Storm head coach Jim Hulton pulled starting netminder Jacob Johansson in favor of backup Hayden Lavigne.

Lavigne surrendered a fifth goal to defenseman Ed McGovern and Sioux Falls took a 5-1 lead into the locker room after two periods.

The Storm never gave up however, and made a game of it in the final 20 minutes of play.

First, Garrett Cecere found the back of the net for the first time this season while on a power play to cut the lead to 5-2. Both Labosky and Wilkie assisted on the man-advantage goal.

Just under six minutes later, Austin Poganski scored his 10th of the season and pulled Tri-City within two, at 5-3. Once again, Labosky and Wilkie had assists on what was the Storm’s third power play goal of the evening.

Storm forward Ryan McMurphy capped off a three-goal run by Tri-City and pulled his team within a goal with under three minutes remaining in the game, taking a pass from Gamez and scoring his seventh tally of the season to make it 5-4.

But Tri-City ran out of time and Kravchenko completed a hat trick, scoring an empty net goal with 32 seconds left on the clock to seal the 6-4 win for Sioux Falls.

Both teams had big nights on the man advantage, as Sioux Falls scored on four of eight power play chances and Tri-City found the back three times in eight chances.

Winning goaltender David Jacobson made 28 saves and picked up his first assist of the season on the team’s second goal of the night.

Johansson made 18 stops before being replaced and Lavigne saved 11 of 12 shots that came his way in the second half of the game.

The Storm will travel to Omaha for their final matchup of the season with the Lancers on Friday night at7:05 p.m. Tri-City will then return home to face the Dubuque Fighting Saints at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday, also at 7:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Thomas Aldworth, Christian Horn and Nick Hutchison, along with defensemen Kevin Kerr, Cutler Martin and Nolan Gluchowski.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko (power play) (Griffen Molino) 8:44

Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin (power play) (David Jacobson) 16:45

2nd Period

Tri-City – Nolan Aibel (Garrett Gamez, Patrick Curry) 5:09
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua (power play) (Tony Calderone, Jason Stephanik) 8:55
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko (power play) (Jack Stander) 11:20
Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern (Dakota Joshua, Ryan Schwalbe) 16:31

3rd Period

Tri-City – Garrett Cecere (power play) (Dan Labosky, Chris Wilkie) 6:38
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Chris Wilkie, Dan Labosky) 12:22
Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy (Garrett Gamez) 17:33
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko (empty net) (unassisted) 19:28

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Ryan Schwalbe – (Hooking), 2 min, 2:39
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (High Sticking), 2 min, 3:27
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (High Sticking), 2 min, 6:40
Sioux Falls – Daniel Fritz – (Charging), 2 min, 9:14
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 16:16

2nd Period
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 0:05
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 3:12

Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 3:12
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (High Sticking), 2 min, 6:56
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 9:54
Sioux Falls – Daniel Fritz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 12:22
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Tripping), 2 min, 15:16
Sioux Falls – Griffen Molino – (Tripping), 2 min, 16:13
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 18:45

3rd Period
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 4:46
Sioux Falls – Jack Stander – (Interference), 2 min, 5:22
Sioux Falls – Daniel Fritz – (Holding), 2 min, 10:48

Power Play

Sioux Falls – 4/8

Tri-City – 3/8

Shots

Sioux Falls: 16, 11, 8 = Total: 35

Tri-City: 7, 7, 18 = Total: 32

Saves

Sioux Falls – David Jacobson – 28/32

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 18/22, Hayden Lavigne – 11/12

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Omaha Lancers (24-6-4) got revenge on Friday night, defeating the Tri-City Storm (12-18-2) 5-3. The Lancers suffered a 2-1 loss on Wednesday at the hands of the Storm, their in-state rivals.

Storm forward Joel L’Esperance scored his team leading 18th goal, while also assisting on a tally by linemate Garrett Gamez. The third member of Tri-City’s top line, Chris Wilkie, made the most of a promotion in the lineup, picking up two assists.

After 19 minutes of scoreless hockey in the opening period, the Lancers broke through first when defenseman Connor Light got a puck through Storm netminder Jacob Johansson to make it 1-0 with exactly one minute remaining in the frame.

But Tri-City picked up an equalizer 29 seconds later and the teams headed into the locker room for the first intermission tied at 1-1. Dan Labosky scored the first of the night for the Storm, banging a puck past Lancers’ netminder Hayden Hawkey for his third goal of the season. The goal was set up by Labosky’s linemates Austin Poganski and Nolan Aibel.

The Storm had the momentum going into the intermission, but Omaha took it back in the opening minute of the second, when Tyler Vesel scored his league leading 26th goal to make it 2-1. Vesel capitalized on a rebound off a shot by defenseman Tucker Poolman and had his seventh tally against Tri-City this season.

Gage Hough found the back of the net at 7:16 of the second to push the Lancers’ lead to 3-1, before the Storm got themselves back in the game on a goal by L’Esperance.

The forward was in the perfect spot to find a rebound after Hawkey saved a shot attempt by Wilkie. Defenseman Kevin Kerr picked up the second assist on the goal.

The Storm had cut the lead to one goal, but Omaha responded just 22 seconds later. Defenseman Matt Nelson beat Johansson for his sixth goal of the season and the Lancers were ahead 4-2 and took their two-goal advantage to the third period.

Once again the Storm made a comeback bid, finding the back of the net at 2:26 of the final period. L’Esperance found Gamez on a rush and the Chino Hills, Calif. native made a beauty of a move to beat Hawkey for his third goal of the season.

Penalties cost Tri-City late in the game and the Lancers capitalized on a 5-on-3 advantage to make it 5-3. Hough got his team some much needed insurance at 8:07 of the third, scoring his second goal of the game and putting things out of reach for the Storm.

Omaha was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Storm went scoreless in four man-advantage chances.

Hawkey made big saves to keep his team in the game and finished with 37 stops, as Tri-City outshot Omaha 40-30. Johansson made 25 saves for the Storm in the loss.

Tri-City is back in action on Saturday night as the Sioux Falls Stampede return to Kearney for a 7:05 p.m.game.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Christian Horn and Nick Hutchison, along with defensemen Cutler Martin and Nolan Gluchowski.…

SCORING SUMMARY 

1st Period
Omaha – Connor Light (Tyler Hynes) 19:00
Tri-City – Dan Labosky (Austin Poganski, Nolan Aibel) 19:29

2nd Period

Omaha – Tyler Vesel (Tucker Poolman) 0:38
Omaha – Gage Hough (Jake Randolph, Tyler Vesel) 7:16
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance (Chris Wilkie, Kevin Kerr) 10:32
Omaha – Matt Nelson (Jake Henderson) 10:54

3rd Period

Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (Joel L’Esperance, Chris Wilkie) 2:26
Omaha – Gage Hough (power play)

PENALTIES

1st Period
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Hooking), 2 min, 1:44
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Roughing), 2 min, 8:47
Omaha – Nash Worden – (Hooking), 2 min, 13:55

2nd Period
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Head Contact), 2 min, 12:00

Omaha – Jimmy Schuldt – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:00

3rd Period
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Cross-Checking), 2 min, 6:34
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 7:03
Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Roughing), 2 min, 10:22
Tri-City – Sean Lang – (Roughing), 2 min, 10:22
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Roughing), 2 min, 12:53
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:53
Omaha – Tyler Hynes – (Roughing), 2 min, 12:53

Power Play

Omaha – 1/4

Tri-City – 0/4

Shots

Omaha: 11, 13, 6 = Total: 30

Tri-City: 10, 16, 14 = Total: 40

Saves

Omaha – Hayden Hawkey – 37/40

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 25/30

OMAHA, Neb. – Two second period goals were all the Tri-City Storm (12-17-2) needed on Wednesday night to defeat the Omaha Lancers (23-6-4) 2-1 and get their first victory against their in-state rivals this season.

Forward Chase Berger picked up the first assist on both of his teams’ goals in the win, while Chris Wilkie converted on a breakaway in his hometown and goaltender Jacob Johansson made 17 saves in his sixth consecutive victory.

The Storm outshot Omaha 30-18 in the game. The 18 shots against are the lowest total Tri-City has allowed this season.

Tyler Vesel opened the scoring with his USHL leading 25th goal at 2:38 of the first. But Tri-City settled down after a shaky few minutes and finished the period with some good offensive chances, outshooting the Lancers 10-8.

The Storm scored both of their goals in the middle period to take the lead for good.

Berger found Wilkie and send him in alone on a breakaway minutes into the period. The Omaha native made a quick move and beat Lancers’ goaltender Cole Bruns with a wrist shot glove side to tie the game 1-1. It was Wilkie’s eighth tally of the season in his first game back on the ice after missing two games with an injury.

Later in the period, Berger pickpocketed a Lancer defenseman in front of the Omaha net and fed a pass right on the stick of forward Kyle Eastman for a tap in goal. Eastman’s second tally of the season turned out to be the game-winner for Tri-City, and the Angola, N.Y. native was named the first star of the game for his efforts.

Neither team was able to score in the third period as the Storm locked things down defensively, allowing only five shots in the final frame.

Both teams also held each other scoreless on special teams, as the Storm were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Lancers were 0-for-5.

The two teams will have a rematch on Friday night in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center with the puck dropping at7:30 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nick Hutchison, Joey DiBenedetto and Nolan Aibel, along with defenseman Cutler Martin.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Omaha – Tyler Vesel (Louie Rowe, Nash Worden) 2:38

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Chase Berger) 2:40
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (Chase Berger) 16:07

3rd Period

(no scoring)

PENALTIES

1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:35
Omaha – Matt Nelson – (Holding), 2 min, 11:04

2nd Period
Omaha – Connor Light – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:08
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Tripping), 2 min, 6:56
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Tripping), 2 min, 10:11
Omaha – Nash Worden – (Interference), 2 min, 13:48
Tri-City – Austin Poganski – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:48
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Roughing), 2 min, 20:00
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Roughing), 2 min, 20:00

3rd Period

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Holding), 2 min, 7:12
Omaha – Luca Frigo – (Head Contact), 2 min, 16:16

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/4

Omaha – 0/5

Shots

Tri-City: 10, 13, 7 = Total: 30

Omaha: 8, 5, 5 = Total: 18

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 17/18

Omaha – Cole Bruns – 28/30

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Tri-City Storm (11-17-2) scored three goals in the second period and held on to win their third consecutive game over the Sioux Falls Stampede (20-9-2) by a final score of 6-4 on Saturday night at the Sioux Falls Arena.

Austin Poganski led the charge, scoring twice, and the Storm got four other goals from Ryan McMurphy, Chase Berger, Dan Labosky and Christian Horn.

Tri-City started quickly, led by Poganski, who scored 56 seconds into the first period to give the Storm a 1-0 lead. Poganski took a pass from Nolan Aibel, then scored on his own rebound. With the assist, Aibel notched his first USHL point in his tenth game.

The Stampede scored twice in 20 seconds later in the opening frame to take a 2-1 lead, but Tri-City responded to tie things back up when Ryan McMurphy found a rebound in front of the net and scored his third goal of the weekend. The initial shot came from defenseman Jalen Schulz, and McMurphy scored his sixth of the season to knot things up going into the locker room.

Despite a tied score, Tri-City had the advantage in shots on goal in the opening frame, 16-5.

The Storm dominated the second period, scoring three goals and taking a 5-2 lead. For the second consecutive frame, Poganski scored in the first minute to get things started. His second of the game and ninth of the season came on the power play, as the forward found a puck at the side of the net and beat goaltender David Jacobson. Assists on the goal went to Garrett Cecere and Horn.

34 seconds later, Berger scored his second in as many games after taking a pass from linemate Patrick Curry. That prompted the Stampede to pull Jacobson from the game in favor of backup Arthur Brey.

Minutes later, the Storm scored their sixth shorthanded goal of the year when Daniel Labosky picked up a loose puck in the Sioux Falls end and beat Brey to make it 5-2.

Sioux Falls were determined to climb back in the game in the third period, but the Storm held strong and were able to finish off the victory.

An insurance tally by Horn came in handy as the Stampede were pelting Tri-City netminder Jacob Johansson. Garrett Gamez started the play by winning a battle in the corner and getting the puck to his center Joel L’Esperance. L’Esperance moved behind the net and put a pass right on Horn’s stick in front. It is the fourth consecutive game with a goal for the Plymouth, Minn. native, and it gave the Storm enough room to seal the win.

Johansson won his tenth game of the season, making 23 saves on 27 shots.

The Storm will now shift their focus to a midweek game in Omaha against the Lancers this Wednesday night.

Tri-City will return home for a pair of weekend games against Omaha and Sioux Falls on Jan. 10 and 11. The Lancers will be in Kearney for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop on Friday night, while Sioux Falls returns for a 7:05 start on Saturday.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Chris Wilkie, Joey DiBenedetto and Nick Hutchison, along with defenseman Cutler Martin…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (Nolan Aibel) 0:56
Sioux Falls – Keith Burchett (Daniel Fritz, Louis Nanne) 8:25
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko (C.J. Franklin, Bo Pellah) 8:45

Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy (Jalen Schulz) 11:45

2nd Period

Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Garrett Cecere, Christian Horn) 0:47
Tri-City – Chase Berger (Patrick Curry) 1:21
Tri-City – Daniel Labosky (shorthanded) (unassisted) 5:04

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin (power play) (Bo Pellah, Zeb Knutson) 2:16
Tri-City – Christian Horn (Joel L’Esperance, Garrett Gamez) 7:08
Sioux Falls – Zeb Knutson (Dennis Kravchenko) 9:48

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Jason Stephanik – (Slashing), 2 min, 5:25
Sioux Falls – Griffen Molino – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:31
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Tripping), 2 min, 19:58

2nd Period
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Elbowing), 2 min, 3:56
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Holding), 2 min, 9:34
Sioux Falls – Joe Schuldt – (Kneeing), 2 min, 12:22
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Slashing), 2 min, 12:41
Tri-City – Christian Horn – (Slashing), 2 min, 15:09
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Hooking), 2 min, 19:27

3rd Period
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 1:42
Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern – (Kneeing), 2 min, 3:05
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Slashing), 2 min, 7:38
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 11:15
Sioux Falls – R.J. Majkozak – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 11:15
Sioux Falls – Louis Nanne – (Interference), 2 min, 12:38
Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy – (Slashing), 2 min, 18:54
Sioux Falls – Bo Pellah – (Interference), 2 min, 19:37

Power Play

Tri-City – 1/8

Sioux Falls – 1/7

Shots

Tri-City: 16, 11, 5 = Total: 32

Sioux Falls: 5, 6, 16 = Total: 27

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 23/27

Sioux Falls – David Jacobson – 14/18, Arthur Brey – 12/14

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Tri-City Storm (10-17-2) took an early lead and never let up, defeating the Sioux Falls Stampede (20-8-2) 5-1 at the Sioux Falls Arena on Friday night.

Ryan McMurphy scored the Storm’s first and fifth goals to up his season total to five, while Kyle Eastman notched his first goal of the season and goaltender Jacob Johansson made 31 saves in the win.

Tri-City controlled the play in the first period and were rewarded for their efforts, scoring two goals in just 28 seconds to take an early 2-0 lead.

First, Eastman controlled a puck in the offensive zone and left a perfect pass on the doorstep for his linemate McMurphy to bury. Thomas Aldworth picked up the second assist on the first tally of the night.

Then it was Christian Horn who doubled the lead on the game’s next shift taking a pass from forward Garrett Gamez and using a Stampede defenseman as a screen to fire the puck past Sioux Falls goaltender Arthur Brey. This time it was defenseman Kevin Kerr who was credited with the second assist, his fourth helper of the season.

The Storm scored again in the middle frame to make it 3-0 when Eastman found a loose rebound in front of the net and was able to push it home. Patrick Curry and McMurphy got assists after a hard-working shift in which Eastman was rewarded with his first tally of the year in the team’s first game of 2014.

Storm forward Chase Berger made it 4-0 Tri-City early on in the third when he found a rebound in front of the net after a Jalen Schulz shot. The goal gave Tri-City total control of the game, Berger’s fifth tally of the season.

After the Stampede got on the board later in the third on a goal by Keith Burchett, the Storm found themselves killing a penalty when Tory Dello was whistled for boarding.

During the penalty kill, the Storm forwards got pressure on the forecheck in the Stampede end. Austin Poganski won a batte and dropped the puck off for an oncoming McMurphy, who fired a slapshot into the upper left hand corner of the net to extend the lead to 5-1.

The goal was the fifth shorthanded tally for the Storm this season and put the game out of reach for the Stampede.

Johansson got his ninth win of the season and continued his brilliance in between the pipes as Tri-City outshot Sioux Falls 35-32.

The two teams will play again tomorrow night in Sioux Falls at 7:05 p.m.

Tri-City will return home for a pair of weekend games against Omaha and Sioux Falls on Jan. 10 and 11. The Lancers will be in Kearney for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop on Friday night, while Sioux Falls returns for a7:05 start on Saturday.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Chris Wilkie, Joey DiBenedetto and Nick Hutchison, along with defenseman Cutler Martin…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy (Kyle Eastman, Thomas Aldworth) 7:58
Tri-City – Christian Horn (Garrett Gamez, Kevin Kerr) 8:26

2nd Period

Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (Patrick Curry, Ryan McMurphy) 5:40

3rd Period

Tri-City – Chase Berger (Jalen Schulz) 3:33
Sioux Falls – Keith Burchett (Zeb Knutson, C.J. Franklin) 8:16
Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy (shorthanded) (Austin Poganski) 10:12

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Daniel Fritz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 11:12
Tri-City – Thomas Aldworth – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 16:55
Tri-City – Thomas Aldworth – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 16:55

2nd Period
Tri-City – Christian Horn – (Hooking), 2 min, 1:09
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (High Sticking), 2 min, 8:52
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Interference), 2 min, 13:13
Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 17:25
Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 2 min, 17:25

3rd Period

Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (High Sticking), 2 min, 0:56
Sioux Falls – Griffen Molino – (Hooking), 2 min, 1:11
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Boarding), 2 min, 9:37
Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin – (Interference), 2 min, 15:14

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/4

Sioux Falls – 0/6

Shots

Tri-City: 12, 11, 12 = Total: 35

Sioux Falls: 11, 12, 9 = Total: 32

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 31/32

Sioux Falls – Arthur Brey – 30/35

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (9-17-2) made it three wins in a row at home, defeating the Sioux Falls Stampede (18-7-2) 3-1 behind another outstanding performance by goaltender Jacob Johansson on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Christian Horn scored the game-winning goal in the second period, while forward Patrick Curry and defenseman Nolan Gluchowski each got their first goals of the season in the victory.

Johansson finished with 34 saves, allowing just one goal to pick up his eighth win of the season.

Sioux Falls took the lead with their only goal of the night at 7:34 of the first. While down a man with Horn in the penalty box for high sticking, Garrett Gamez hit the post on a shorthanded chance. Stampede forward C.J. Franklin picked up the rebound and took the puck all the way into the Tri-City end. The veteran was able to get the puck past Johansson after the goaltender made the initial safe as the puck deflected off a Storm player’s skate in front of the net.

Tri-City tied the game later in the opening period on Curry’s first USHL goal. Curry, in his fourth game with the Storm after being traded from the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL, made sure it counted with a highlight reel play. From behind the net, Curry reached around to the front and backhanded a puck past Stampede goaltender David Jacobson from his knees. Both Dan Labosky and Sean Lang received assists on the play.

The Storm gained the lead in the second period and never looked back. Horn picked up his third goal of the weekend at 4:49 of the frame, finding a rebound in front, and Gluchowski scored a power play tally at18:04 to make it 3-1.

Neither team found the back of the net in the third, leading to the Storm’s first win over Sioux Falls since Nov. 16, 2012.

The Stampede outshot the Storm 35-28, and each team converted once on the power play.

The two teams will face-off twice more next weekend as the Storm travel to Sioux Falls for a two-game series Jan. 3-4.

Tri-City will return home for a pair of weekend games against Omaha and Sioux Falls on Jan. 10 and 11. The Lancers will be in Kearney for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop on Friday night, while Sioux Falls returns for a7:05 start on Saturday.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Chase Berger, Joey DiBenedetto and Drew Mayer, along with defenseman Cutler Martin. Jalen Schulz was also scratched, serving a suspension.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin (power play) (unassisted) 7:34
Tri-City – Patrick Curry (Daniel Labosky, Sean Lang) 17:16

2nd Period

Tri-City – Christian Horn (Joel L’Esperance, Garrett Gamez) 4:49
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski (power play) (Garrett Cecere, ) 18:04

3rd Period

(no scoring)

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Ed McGovern – (High Sticking), 2 min, 3:51
Tri-City – Christian Horn – (High Sticking), 2 min, 6:54
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 10:24
Sioux Falls – Daniel Fritz – (Slashing), 2 min, 10:24
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct) 10:24
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Holding), 2 min, 13:35
Sioux Falls – Louis Nanne – (Interference), 2 min, 15:12
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:16
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:37
Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:37

2nd Period
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 11:38
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 11:38
Sioux Falls – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 17:56
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (Tripping), 2 min, 18:56
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko – (Checking From Behind), 5 min, 19:37
Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Slashing), 2 min, 19:37
Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravehcnko – (Checking From Behind) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 19:37

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – Bo Pellah – (Slashing), 2 min, 6:47
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:53
Tri-City – Austin Poganski – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:53
Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:53
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 19:53

Power Play

Sioux Falls – 1/5

Tri-City – 1/4

Shots

Sioux Falls: 11, 11, 13 = Total: 35

Tri-City: 7, 13, 8 = Total: 28

Saves

Sioux Falls – David Jacobson – 25/28

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 34/35

OMAHA, Neb. – The USHL’s best Omaha Lancers (21-4-3) scored five power play goals en route to an 8-3 win over the Tri-City Storm (8-17-2) at the Ralston Arena on Friday night.

Tri-City was led by forward Christian Horn, who scored two power play goals and picked up an assist in the loss. Forward Joel L’Esperance and defenseman Nolan Gluchowski each had two assists apiece for the Storm.

In a game that had a total of eight power play goals, the Lancers took an early lead when their leading scorer Jake Randolph scored his thirteenth goal of the season at 3:30 of the opening period and never trailed.

Randolph finished the game with two goals and three assists, adding his second tally of the night at 11:25of the second frame. His center Tyler Vesel also finished with five points on the night, scoring a goal and assisting on four others. Vesel’s league-leading 23rd tally was the final mark of the game, coming at 5:02of the third period.

All three Storm goals came with the man-advantage, and Tri-City finished the night 3-for-7 on the power play.

Horn got his first of the night halfway through the opening frame when he used a screen from forward Austin Poganski and beat Omaha goaltender Hayden Hawkey. Both L’Esperance and Gluchowski had assists on the Storm’s first goal of the night.

The Plymouth, Minn. native got his second goal of the game five minutes into the second period, this time scoring on a pass from Poganski. Gluchowski picked up the second assist on Tri-City’s second mark of the game. Horn now has eight goals and 10 assists in 20 games this season.

Poganski had the final Storm goal of the night, his seventh of the season. The St. Cloud, Minn. product took advantage of a shot by L’Esperance that had been deflected by Horn, and was able to knock the puck past Hawkey just 33 seconds into the third period.

Other goal scorers for the Lancers included forwards Brian Williams, Ryan Tait and Gage Hough, who had two tallies, as well as defenseman Tucker Poolman.

Hawkey made 17 saves for the Lancers for the win, while Tri-City’s Hayden Lavigne saw 34 shots, making 26 saves.

Omaha outshot the Storm 34-20 on the night.

Tri-City now returns home for a matchup with the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nick Hutchison, Joey DiBenedetto and Kyle Eastman, along with defenseman Cutler Martin.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Omaha – Jake Randolph (Tyler Vesel, Gage Hough) 3:30
Omaha – Brian Williams (Louie Rowe) 5:59

Tri-City – Christian Horn (power play) (Joel L’Esperance, Nolan Gluchowski) 10:30

Omaha – Ryan Tait (power play) (Luca Frigo, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson) 12:32
Omaha – Gage Hough (Tyler Vesel) 17:41

2nd Period

Omaha – Gage Hough (power play) (Tucker Poolman, Jake Randolph) 0:23
Omaha – Tucker Poolman (power play) (Jake Randolph, Tyler Vesel) 2:48
Tri-City – Christian Horn (power play) (Austin Poganski, Nolan Gluchowski) 5:03
Omaha – Jake Randolph (power play) (Anthony Angello, Tyler Vesel) 11:25

3rd Period

Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Christian Horn, Joel L’Esperance) 0:33
Omaha – Tyler Vesel (power play) (Steven Johnson, Jake Randolph) 5:02

PENALTIES

1st Period
Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 5:59
Tri-City – Garrett Cecere – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 5:59

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Tripping), 2 min, 6:46
Omaha – Connor Light – (Tripping), 2 min, 9:54
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (Head Contact), 2 min, 11:04
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Head Contact), 5 min, 14:35
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Head Contact) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 14:35
Omaha – Jimmy Schuldt – (Fighting (Instigator)), 2 min, 14:35
Omaha – Jimmy Schuldt – (Fighting), 5 min, 14:35
Omaha – Jimmy Schuldt – (Fighting) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 14:35
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Fighting), 5 min, 14:35
Omaha – Jake Randolph – (Slashing), 2 min, 17:06
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 19:22

2nd Period
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Interference), 2 min, 2:13
Omaha – Matt Nelson – (High Sticking), 2 min, 3:59
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Roughing), 2 min, 9:18
Tri-City – Nolan Aibel – (High Sticking), 2 min, 9:27
Tri-City – Christian Horn – (Holding), 2 min, 16:23
Omaha – Luca Frigo – (Hooking), 2 min, 18:56

3rd Period

Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:20
Omaha – Connor Light – (Hooking), 2 min, 5:45
Omaha – Tucker Poolman – (Hooking), 2 min, 7:55
Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 12:58
Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:58
Omaha – Connor Light – (Boarding), 2 min, 15:58

Power Play

Tri-City – 3/7

Omaha – 5/8

Shots

Tri-City: 5, 9, 6 = Total: 20

Omaha: 9, 14, 11 = Total: 34

Saves

Tri-City – Hayden Lavigne – 26/34

Omaha – Hayden Hawkey – 17/20