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USHL Tri-City Storm

Storm Preview: Final Tilt against Lincoln Tonight at Ice Box

March 24, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Lincoln, Neb. - For the ninth and final time this season, the Tri-City Storm (18-27-6-2, 44 pts., 8th Western) and Lincoln Stars (28-20-4-1, 61 pts., 5th Western) battle, with the ultimate match set Friday at 7:35 p.m in the state capital. The Storm is 3-4-1-0 against Lincoln and the Stars have taken the last two meetings. Tri-City is 2-1-1-0 at Lincoln.

The Storm dropped both home games to Muskegon last weekend and has points in three of the last five contests (2-2-1-0).

With seven games left, the Stars are six points back of Fargo for the fourth and final Western Conference playoff spot. Lincoln has alternated wins and losses the last two weekends (2-2-0-0) and is coming off of a victory against Bloomington last Saturday.

The Storm returns home Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against Sioux Falls for "Casino Night", presented by Midway Auto Dealerships. The Storm will have 25 concourse games and prizes from local sponsors. During intermission, fans can sign up for a chance to shoot and win a 2016 Jeep Renegade from Midway.

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

Remaining Schedule. Fri., March 24 at Lincoln, 7:35 p.m.

Sat., March 25 vs. Sioux Falls, 7:05 p.m. (Casino Night, $5 Kids Friday) Fri., March 31 vs. Chicago, 7:05 p.m. (Dash For Cash, $5 Kids Friday, Postgame Autographs Sat., April 1 vs. Chicago, 7:05 p.m. (Fan Appreciation Night, postgame skate) Sun., April 2 at Sioux City, 3:05 p.m. Fri., April 8 at Cedar Rapids, 7:05 p.m. Sat., April 9 at Des Moines, 7:05 p.m.

Season series recap After playing seven times through the Storm's first 28 games, Friday's game is the second since New Years Eve (26 games). Both teams have scored 21 goals in the series, and five of the eight games have been one-goal decisions. Lincoln is 4-1-0-0 in the one-goal games.

Linus Weissbach (3g), Adam Goodsir (3g) and Monte Graham (4a) lead the Storm with five points against the Stars. Weissbach scored the Storm's only goal in the last matchup, a 3-1 Stars victory on Valentine's Day.

Lincoln's Ethen Frank paces the Stars with six points (3g, 3a) and is tied with Mike Gillespie for a squad-high three goals.

Eric Dop has not faced Lincoln this season; Dayton Rasmussen made six starts and Logan Halladay and David Tomeo each had one appearance.

Cayden Primeau has appeared in seven games against Tri-City, allowing 19 goals and recording a 3-3-0-0 record. Josef Korenar is 2-0-0-0 and has allowed two goals in 94 minutes.

Some danger If the Stars miss the Clark Cup Playoffs, it would be the first time all three Nebraska-based USHL teams - Lincoln, Tri-City and Omaha - fail to qualify.

The Storm and Lancers have already been eliminated from contention. Lincoln entered the league in 1996 and has missed the postseason four times (2004, 2010, 2014, 2015). Omaha has missed the playoffs three times over that span (2013, 2016, 2017). Tri-City was founded in 2000.

All three Nebraska teams have made the playoffs six times (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012). Two of the clubs have qualified on eight occasions (2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016). In 2013, only the Stars clinched a berth. In 2014, Omaha placed second in the conference.

Recapping the history The Storm is 7-7-1-1 against Lincoln since Bill Muckalt became Storm Head Coach. The Storm lost the first four games of Muckalt's tenure, then ripped off five straight wins and a six-game point streak. Since that run ended in October, the Stars are 5-2.

Tri-City has outscored Lincoln, 42-40, in the 16 games. Seven games have been decided by one goal and Lincoln is 5-2 in such contests.

At the Ice Box, the Storm is 4-3-1-0 under Muckalt and 9-5-1-1 the last four seasons.

Scouting Lincoln The Stars can be eliminated from the Clark Cup Playoffs this weekend with two regulation losses, two Fargo wins and three points by Des Moines. Lincoln has 61 points, six back of the fourth-place Force.

Lincoln is second in the league in 1-goal wins (15-7-4-1), but has not won a game by a goal since February 11 against Omaha. Since that victory, the Stars are 6-6-0-0.

Josef Korenar has played in the last four games, recording a 2-2-0-0 mark and allowing seven goals. Overall in 26 games, Korenar is 10-10-3-0 with a 2.33 goals against average and .924 save percentage (second in league). Cayden Primeau is 14-10-1-1 with a shutout, 3.08 goals against average and .897 save percentage in 29 games.

Brandon Schultz leads the Stars with 28 assists and 41 points. Sam Sternschein tops Lincoln with 20 goals. The Stars brought in Jack Doremus (19 total goals) from Sioux Falls at the trade deadline and the forward has one goal and two points in six games. Ethen Frank has tallied 18 goals and is second on the team with 40 points.

On Deck The Storm returns home for Casino Night, presented by Midway Auto Dealerships, against Sioux Falls on March 25 at 7:05 p.m. Play fun games on the concourse before and during the game!

Listen to all games on The Breeze 94.5 FM. Coverage starts with the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show 15 minutes before puck drop.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2017


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