Storm Game Preview: Tri-City Looks to End Weekend with Win at Des Moines
November 26, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
Urbandale, Ia. - The Tri-City Storm (7-7-2-2, 18 pts., T-5th Western) finishes up a three-game Thanksgiving weekend road trip with a game against the Des Moines Buccaneers (10-6-0-1, 21 pts., 4th Western), Saturday at 7:05 p.m. on The Breeze 94.5 FM.
Through the first two games of the trip, Tri-City has earned one point. Joseph Campolieto has goals in both games of the road swing, the first two of his USHL career.
The Storm's penalty kill had a streak of 33 successful kills ended Friday, the longest of Head Coach Bill Muckalt's tenure. The Storm has allowed one man-up goal in eight games.
Tri-City is back home next Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3, for a pair of home games against the Waterloo Black Hawks.
Get Storm Tickets
Viaero Wireless Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m. Radio: The Breeze 94.5 FM | Listen Live | Mobile: Free audio on your mobile device with the Tri-City Storm Mobile App (iPhone App Store // Google Play ) Streaming Video: Pay-to-watch on http://USHL.HockeyTV.com Social: @TriCityStorm for in-game updates and broadcaster @RealDavidFine #DefendToTheEnd
Upcoming Schedule (Download here ) Sat., Nov. 26 at Des Moines, 7:05 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 2 vs. Waterloo, 7:05 p.m. - First Responders Night, $5 Kids Friday
Sat., Dec. 3 vs. Waterloo, 3:05 p.m. - Boy Scout Day, Specialty jerseys Get Storm Tickets
Last Time Out
Three Storm players scored, but Eric MacAdams scored the overtime-winning goal for the Sioux Falls Stampede to edge Tri-City, 4-3, Friday at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Joseph Campolieto and Paul Washe gave Tri-City a 2-0 lead in the first. Danny DiGrande pushed the Storm in front, 3-2, with a tally at eight minutes of the third.
Sioux Falls fought back from a pair of deficits, 2-0 and 3-2, and solved Eric Dop four times on 33 shots.
Scouting Des Moines
Since starting the season 4-0-0-1, the Buccaneers are 6-6-0-0 over the last 12 games. Despite allowing six goals last night at Dubuque, Des Moines allows 2.3 goals against per game. Last season, the Buccaneers gave up 3.42 goals per game, 14th of 17 teams.
Des Moines is the only USHL team to return two goalies this season. Jan Ruzicka, named to the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects game, has a 7-4-0-1 record, 1.97 goals against average, .929 save percentage and two shutouts in 12 games. Nick McNab has a shutout in five games, posting a 3-2-0-0 record, 2.43 goals against average and .920 save percentage.
After finishing last season 13th in the league in goal scoring, Des Moines' offense is tallying half a goal more per game and ranks third scoring 3.29 goals a game. The Buccaneers lost their top six points leaders from last season, but returning forward Kobe Roth leads the way with 14 points. Eight Des Moines players have at least four goals, compared to four Storm skaters.
Bench Accolades
Storm Head Coach Bill Muckalt is in his second year, racking up a combined regular season record of 35-22-12-8. Muckalt became the fifth rookie Head Coach in the Tier-I history of the league to win the Clark Cup.
Dave Allison is in his third season as Buccaneers Head Coach and has been coaching professional and junior hockey since 1986-87 with the IHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks. For perspective, Muckalt was 14 years old when Allison joined Muskegon as a player-assistant coach in 1986. Allison is the only current USHL bench boss with NHL head coaching experience. In 1996, Allison served as interim Head Coach for the 1995-96 Ottawa Senators, going 2-22-1 after taking over for Rick Bowness 19 games into the season. Jacques Martin replaced Allison for the final 38 games of the regular season.
On Deck The Storm returns home for a pair of home games on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 against Waterloo. Friday's game is a 7:05 p.m. puck drop for First Responders Night, presented by New West Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery, plus a $5 Kids Friday. Tri-City will honor local first responders throughout the night, paying tribute to the hard work and efforts of so many in the central Nebraska community.
Saturday, December 3 is Boy Scout Day, presented by Cabela's, and features a special 3:05 p.m. start time and one-game-only specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game.
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