Storm Hang on to Sweep Youngstown in Shootout
December 13, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
KEARNEY, Neb. - Unable to hold a two-goal lead in the third, the Tri-City Storm (13-7-3) needed a shootout to complete a 3-2 win and sweep the Youngstown Phantoms (12-7-5), on Saturday afternoon at the Viaero Event Center.
Storm goals were scored by defenseman Kevin Kerr and forward Jake Wahlin, while Dan Labosky and Mason Appleton converted in the shootout.
Tri-City netminder Jared Rutledge made 31 saves and stopped 3-of-4 in the shootout to record a victory in his first game with the Storm.
Neither team was able to score in the opening frame, but Tri-City outshot the Phantoms 13-8 through the first 20 minutes.
The Storm finally broke through in the final two minutes of the second, when forward Wade Allison found Kerr who joined the rush and beat Youngstown goaltender Chris Birdsall.
The goal unleashed the Teddy Bear Toss at the Viaero Event Center and brought a crowd of 3,425 to life.
19 seconds later, Tri-City made it 2-0 when Wahlin banked a rebound off Birdsall into the net. Cody Milan brought the puck into the Youngstown end but fanned on a shot attempt. The puck bounced off the endboards right to Wahlin, who scored his third goal of the season.
In the third, Youngstown was able to tie the game and force overtime, getting goals from defenseman Matt Miller and forward Josh Melnick.
Without a winner in the extra five minute period, the teams went to a shootout.
Maxim Letunov scored for Youngstown in the first round to give the Phantoms the early lead in the skill session. After missed attempts by Wilkie and Milan, Labosky scored in the third round on a do-or-die attempt to force a fourth round.
Rutledge stopped Kiefer Sherwood in the fourth, giving Appleton the opening to seal a win for the Storm.
Tri-City has now won four consecutive games and has 29 points, sitting in second in the USHL's Western Conference. The Storm have also won four straight against Youngstown, and have a record of 4-2 in the shootout during the 2014-15 season.
Just one game remains on the schedule before the league's holiday break. Tri-City will be in Omaha to face the Lancers on Friday night at 7:35 p.m.
The Storm return to the Viaero Event Center on Dec. 27 to face Sioux City at 3:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Garrett Gamez and Kyle Eastman along with defenseman Bobby Nardella. Forward Joel Herbert was also scratched, serving a league suspension.
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