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USHL Tri-City Storm

Meyer and Goransson Lead USHL in Points in Week 7

November 9, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Mattias Goransson of the Tri-City Storm
Mattias Goransson of the Tri-City Storm
(Tri-City Storm)

The Tri-City Storm excelled over the weekend against two of the top five teams in the USHL, the Lincoln Stars and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The Storm accumulated six power-play goals in two games, including four man-up goals in the third period against the Stars.

Mattias Goransson and Carson Meyer had the most-prolific offensive weekends in the USHL with five points each. Goransson leads all USHL defenseman with 13 points, while the forward Meyer is second in the league with nine goals.

The Storm's four-game road trip continues against the division-leading Lincoln Stars Friday, followed by a rematch of last season's Clark Cup Semifinals Saturday against the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Last Week:

Friday, November 6 at Lincoln: Loss, 6-4

Saturday, November 7 at Cedar Rapids: Win, 4-1

This Week:

Friday, November 13 at Lincoln, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, November 14 at Sioux Falls, 7:05 p.m.

Need to Know:

Mattias: The Rock of Gibraltar

Called the Storm's "Rock of Gibraltar" by Head Coach Bill Muckalt, Tri-City defenseman Mattias Goransson continues to pummel opposing defenses, tallying two goals and a USHL-best five points over the weekend against Lincoln and Cedar Rapids. The native of Grums, Sweden leads USHL defenseman with 13 points and has five goals, tied for the most among the league's blueliners.

The 6-foot-3, 210-lb. defenseman's production goes beyond garnering points - it's simply about his presence on the ice. This weekend, he was on the ice for seven of eight Storm goals. Over the last six games, Tri-City has scored 18 goals; Goransson has been on the ice for 15 of those tallies, accumulating five goals and ten points.

This season, the Storm has scored 35 goals; Goransson has been on ice for 23 of the Storm's tallies, or 65.7% of Tri-City's goals. He has only been on the ice ten times when the Storm has allowed goals, all at even strength, including three empty-netters.

Goransson + Marino: A Splendid Pairing

Paired together throughout the season, Mattias Goransson and John Marino are the highest-scoring defensive combo in the USHL, combining for 25 points in 13 games. Marino had three assists this weekend, giving him nine helpers, third in the league for a blueliner. Marino has ten points, fifth for a USHL defenseman.

Goransson has seven power-play points this season, tied for best in the league, while Marino is second on the Storm with five points on the man up.

Super Power Play

The Storm's power play helped Tri-City stay with the Stars and beat the RoughRiders over the weekend, connecting six times on 15 chances, including a five-for-five stretch crossed over the two games.

Friday at Lincoln, Tri-City went four-for-five on the man up in the third period, connecting on its last four power-play chances in a span of 7:44. The Storm then scored on its first man-advantage opportunity Saturday to complete the five-for-five stretch.

Tri-City finished with two goals on seven power-play chances against Cedar Rapids. On the road, the Storm has scored ten man-up goals, best in the league. The next closest club, the Chicago Steel, has seven goals on the road power play. Tri-City has scored on 31.3% of its opportunities on the road man up, second best in the USHL behind Madison (31.6%).

The Storm has had the most power-play opportunities (62) and taken the fewest penalty minutes (142).

Sturm shining

Nico Sturm had a goal and an assist in two games this weekend, giving the forward points in six straight games, the longest stretch for a Storm player this season and the second longest stretch for a USHL player in 2015-16.

The 6-foot-3, 190-lb. forward has two goals and five assists over the last six, bolstering his point total to nine this season.

Sturm centers a line with right winger Carson Meyer, who is third in the USHL with 15 points, and left winger Jake Wahlin, who had a season-best three points Saturday.

Other News and Notes

- Goalie Jake Kielly stopped 33 of 34 shots Saturday and sits fourth in the league with a 2.10 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.

- The Storm's penalty kill is second in the USHL, killing 88.2%.

- Meyer has scored goals in every Tri-City road game this season (seven goals) and finished with five points in two games this weekend, tied with Mattias Goransson for most in Week 7.

- Jake Wahlin had a season-best three points Saturday against Cedar Rapids. Today is Jake's 19th birthday.

Game Recaps:

Game 12 vs. Lincoln: Storm falls just short of crazy comeback, 6-4

The Tri-City Storm scored four power-play goals in the final 13 minutes of the game, but the Lincoln Stars fended off two potential three-goal comebacks with three third-period goals to best the Storm, 6-4, Friday at The Ice Box.

Down 3-0 entering the third, Mattias Goransson and Joe Cipollone scored consecutive goals 56 seconds apart to cut the deficit to 3-2 with just under 12 minutes left.

The Stars responded with two goals in the next three minutes to boost the lead back to three.

The resilient Storm attack then went on a consecutive-goal run again, using Goransson's second tally and Carson Meyer's first goal of the game to cut the lead to 5-4. Meyer, who scored his first of three weekend goals with the tally, scored 55 seconds after Goransson with 4:49 left.

Seventeen seconds later, Lincoln Captain Biagio Lerario scored to nullify the second potential comeback.

Patrik Virtanen made 26 of 30 saves and earned the win. Matt Greenfield made nine saves before being replaced by Jake Kielly midway through the second. Kielly also made nine saves and allowed three goals.

Game 13 at Cedar Rapids: All-around Storm effort drops RoughRiders, 4-1

The Tri-City Storm scored two power-play goals, Jake Kielly made season-best 33 saves and the Storm ran away from the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-1, Saturday at The Stable.

Carson Meyer had two goals and a season-high three points. Jake Wahlin also finished with a season-best three points.

Playing against his former team after being acquired in a trade Oct. 28, Collin Rutherford assisted on Jake Wahlin's goal with just under one minute to play in the first that gave the Storm a 2-1 lead.

Wahlin earned assists on the next two Storm goals in the third period.

Mattias Goransson earned his fourth and fifth points of the weekend, both assists. Both of Goransson's assists came off shots and were on the power play. First, he shot a wrister on the ice that Nico Sturm deflected off the ice and past Ben Blacker. Second, Goransson rifled a slapshot that was stopped by Ben Blacker, but blooped in the air and was struck with a baseball swing out of midair by Meyer, the forward's first goal of the contest.

Meyer dumped an empty-net goal with six seconds left to seal victory.

This Week:

Monday, November 9, 2015:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 12, 2015:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Friday, November 13, 2015:

Game at Lincoln - 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, November 14, 2015:

Game at Sioux Falls - 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, November 15, 2015:

Off Day

Monday, November 16, 2015

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

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Tri-City's next two games are on the road, at 7:05 p.m. against the Lincoln Stars on Friday, Nov. 13 and 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, against Sioux Falls.

The Storm is back home on November 20 and 21, with games against the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Friday, Nov. 20 vs. Sioux Falls: Come check out Social Media Night sponsored by Hilltop Mall; students stick around after the game for a special High-School and College post-game skate with great giveaways from Coca-Cola.

Saturday Nov. 21 vs. Sioux Falls: The 501st Legion celebrates Star Wars Night, with in-game Star Wars entertainment sponsored by the Troll's Den. Come dressed in your favorite Star Wars costume for a chance to win a prize.

Groups of 10+ can get discounted group tickets for as low as $11! For more information contact the Storm Box Office at 308-338-8144.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics




Images from this story

Carson Meyer of the Tri-City Storm
Carson Meyer of the Tri-City Storm
 Mattias Goransson of the Tri-City Storm
Mattias Goransson of the Tri-City Storm
  



United States Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2015


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