FARGO, ND. – The Tri-City Storm’s nine-game winning streak ended Saturday night at Scheels Arena in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Fargo Force. Tri-City came within one game of tying the organization’s record for most consecutive wins. Lleyton Roed, Nate Benoit, Mitchell Miller, and Ilya Nikolaev each scored goals for the Storm in the road loss. Tri-City returns to action with back-to-back road games next weekend against the Omaha Lancers and the Lincoln Stars.
Lleyton Roed netted the opening goal of the game at 16:59 of the 1st period to give Tri-City a one-goal lead. Roed’s goal was his fifth of the season and was assisted by Mitchell Miller and Ilya Nikolaev. At 18:03 of the 1st period, Nate Benoit scored his first career USHL goal to give Tri-City a 2-0 lead. Benoit’s goal was assisted by Tanner Adams. With less than two minutes to play in the 1st period, Fargo’s Thomas Weis scored his first goal of the season to cut Tri-City’s lead in half. Felikss Gavars recorded the lone assist on the goal. Tri-City outshot Fargo 11-8 in the 1st period and carried a 2-1 advantage into the 2nd period.
Mitchell Miller scored his ninth goal of the season on the powerplay at 11:17 of the 2nd period to give the Storm a 3-1 lead. Miller’s goal was assisted by Ilya Nikolaev and Jeremy Wilmer. Luke Gramer netted an even-strength goal to cut into the Storm’s lead just over one minute later. The goal was assisted by Erik Bargholtz and Bret Link. Ilya Nikolaev scored his fifth goal of the season on the powerplay at 14:10 of the period to give the Storm a 4-2 lead. Cole O’Hara and Jeremy Wilmer each notched assists on the scoring play. Tri-City outshot Fargo 14-9 in the 2nd period and carried a 4-2 lead into the 3rd period.
At 9:23 of the 3rd period, Fargo’s Tyler Rollwagen netted his third goal of the season to bring the Force back within one goal of the Storm’s lead. Rollwagen’s goal was assisted by Kyle Smolen and Bryan Huggins. In the final two minutes of Saturday’s 3rd period, Bret Link netted his sixth goal of the season to tie the game at a 4-4 score. Tri-City outshot Fargo 8-7 in the 3rd period and the game required an overtime period to decide a winner. Joe Palodichuk scored his first goal of the season at 2:54 of the overtime period to give Fargo a 5-4 overtime victory over the Storm.
Chase Clark recorded the overtime loss in net for Tri-City after making 29 saves on 34 shots. Louden Hogg picked up the win in goal for Fargo in a 30 save on 34 shot performance. The Storm fell to 14-2-1-0 in the loss.
Tri-City hits the ice again on Friday, December 3rd in a road game against the Omaha Lancers. Puck drop for the game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. For the latest information regarding the Tri-City Storm skate to www.StormHockey.com. #StormAhead
