USHL Tri-City Storm

Storm Readies to Host Sioux Falls in First Round After OT Loss to Lancers, 5-4

Published on April 11, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Kearney, Neb. - The Tri-City Storm and Omaha Lancers combined for four goals in the final 6:30 of the third before Lancers captain Nick Rivera scored in 4-on-4 overtime with 1:48 left, ending the Storm's regular season with a 5-4 defeat Saturday in front of a sold out Viaero Center.

The Storm and Lancers each scored twice in the third; Brian Hawkinson scored his first USHL goal with 6:30 left. Next, with the Storm's net emptied and trailing by one, Brandon Duhaime deflected a puck to tie the contest, 4-4, with 30.5 seconds left.

Collin Rutherford and Carson Meyer also scored for the Storm, while Duhaime finished with a goal and an assist.

The Storm's Dayton Rasmussen made multiple sliding stops throughout the third, keeping the Storm in the contest. Rasmussen made 24 saves in defeat. Zack Skog won with 26 saves.

Tri-City finishes the regular season 28-15-10-7 and opens the Clark Cup Playoffs against the Sioux Falls Stampede next Thursday, April 14 at 7:05 p.m. Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals is Friday, April 15, at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at the Viaero Center Box Office. http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

Hawkinson's spin-o-rama goal with 6:30 left in the third gave the Storm a 3-2 edge. After taking a hard pass from Jake Wahlin at the slot, Hawkinson twisted his back to the goalie and back handed the puck to the left corner of the cage.

Omaha scored the next two goals, first from Noah Cates with 4:36 left and then from Brannon McManus on the power play with 1:28 remaining to jump ahead, 4-3.

The Storm pulled the goaltender Rasmussen with one minute left and began its work. Mattias Goransson slung a deflection shot on Duhaime's twig at the center slot, careening the puck by Skog's right shoulder.

Head Coach Bill Muckalt said before the game that one of his goals was to get every active Storm player in the lineup; Collin Rutherford, making his first appearance of the weekend, contributed quickly.

Rutherford found a bouncing puck at the right post, settled the biscuit and delivered it to the back of the net eight minutes into the first. Assists went to Tory Dello and Alex Limoges.

The second period started in a sprint; the clubs combined for three goals in the first six minutes. Omaha scored the first two; former Storm defenseman Michael Joyaux tallied at 2:25 of the second on power play and Cody Fleckenstein scored for the second straight night at 5:04.

Forty-five seconds after Fleckenstein's goal, Carson Meyer ripped his 32nd at the low right circle by Skog. Nico Sturm and Jack McNeeley took the assists. The game was tied at two after two.

Omaha's power play went 2-for-3, while Tri-City finished 0-for-2.

Home dates for the Storm's first-round series in the 2016 Clark Cup Playoffs has been released. Playoff tickets are on sale now. The Storm is the one-seed in the Western Conference and has been confirmed for the following home dates.

-GAME 1: Storm vs TBD - Thursday, 4/14 at 7:05 PM

-GAME 2: Storm vs TBD - Friday, 4/15 at 7:05 PM

-GAME 5: Storm vs TBD (if necessary) - Tuesday, 4/26 at 7:05 PM

Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show on The Breeze 94.5 FM - kliqfm.com.

http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

For information contact the Storm Box Office at 308-338-8144.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2016


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