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USHL Tri-City Storm

Clark Cup Finals Preview: Defense and Goaltending

May 13, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Kearney, Neb. - The Tri-City Storm and Dubuque Fighting Saints boast the two best defenses in the Clark Cup Playoffs and face off in the best-of-five Clark Cup Finals. The Storm is seeking its first Clark Cup and is in the final round for the second time.

The Storm is allowing 2.0 goals/game, which Dubuque yields 2.11 goals/game.

Game 1 of the Clark Cup Finals is Friday, May 13 at 7:35 p.m. at the Mystique Ice Center in Dubuque. Game 2 is Saturday, May 14 at 7:05 p.m.

The Storm is home at the Viaero Center for Game 3 on Friday, May 20 at 7:05 p.m. If necessary, Game 4 is Saturday, May 21 at 7:05 p.m. Both games feature $5 kids tickets and $6 student tickets and the Storm will announce more specials within the next few days. Game 5, if necessary, is in Dubuque on Tuesday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m.

Call the box office for tickets (308-338-8011) or visit: http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

Storm postseason games can be heard on The Breeze 94.5 FM - kliqfm.com . Game 1 coverage begins at 7:20 with the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show. Game 2 coverage starts at 6:45 p.m.

Tri-City Defense

Led by Jake Kielly's three shutouts, the Storm has allowed two or fewer goals in five of eight postseason games. Kielly owns half of the USHL's postseason blankings.

The 19-year-old netminder has a playoff-best 1.76 goals against average and .947 save percentage.

Carson Meyer has contributed a Storm-best 11 postseason points and leads the league with a plus-nine rating. Dubuque's Michael O'Leary is a plus-seven, tied with Tri-City's Tory Dello, Mattias Goransson and Andrew Peski for second.

In the first round, the Tri-City defensive core held Sioux Falls' captain Parker Tuomie scoreless. The forward led the Herd in points during the regular season. In the Conference Finals against Waterloo, Ryan Lohin (1a) and Sam McCormick (1g), the club's two-top regular season scorers, were limited to two combined points.

Dubuque Defense

Dubuque netminder Hunter Miska shut out Bloomington in Game 5 of the Conference Finals with 25 saves, sealing the Saints' spot in the Finals. Prior to the blanking, the 20-year-old backstopper yielded 12 goals in the series' first four games. Miska allowed seven goals in four games to Green Bay in the Conference Semifinals.

The Minnesota-Duluth commit Miska is second with a 1.97 goals against average and third with a .927 save percentage.

The Saints and Storm boast the playoffs' top penalty kills. Tri-City has killed off 90% (27-for-30), while Dubuque has a 86.5% rate (32-for-37).

During the regular season, Dubuque allowed 2.65 goals/game, fifth in the league. The Storm was seventh, yielding 2.73 goals/game.

Clark Cup Finals Schedule:

#1 Tri-City Storm vs. #3 Dubuque Fighting Saints

GAME 1: Friday, May 13, 7:35 p.m. (Mystique Ice Center)

GAME 2: Saturday, May 14, 7:05 p.m. (Mystique Ice Center)

GAME 3: Friday, May 20, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center)

GAME 4: Saturday, May 21, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center)

GAME 5: Tuesday, May 24, 7:05 p.m. (Mystique Ice Center)

Purchase playoff tickets here (http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets ).

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from May 13, 2016


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