LINCOLN, NE – The Tri-City Storm dropped the opening game of the weekend to the Lincoln Stars Friday night at the Ice Box by a final score of 4-2. Ryan Smith and Dallas Vieau each netted a goal for Tri-City in the loss. The Storm will now return home to the Viaero Center on Saturday night for the team's final game before the upcoming holiday break. Puck drop for tomorrow's annual Concrete Cares Game in Kearney is set for 6:05pm CT.
 
Ryan Smith netted the lone goal of Friday's opening period to give Tri-City a 1-0 advantage in the battle. Smith's goal was scored at 5:31 of the 1^st period, and was assisted by Shaun McEwen. The scoring play was Smith's tenth of the season, and was netted even-strength. The Storm outshot the Stars by a 12-6 margin during the 1^st period.
 
Lincoln's Jack Pechar tied the game with a powerplay goal in the opening three minutes of the 2^nd period. The scoring play was Pechar's tenth of the year, and started a run of three unanswered goals by the Stars in the first six minutes of Friday's middle period. Griffin Brown scored his first goal of the season at 4:13 of the 2^nd period to give Lincoln a one-goal lead in the battle. The goal was netted even-strength, and was assisted by Ryan Spinale and Blake Montgomery. Justin Mexico scored a breakaway goal just over a minute later to add to the Stars' lead. The final goal of Friday's 2^nd period was scored on the powerplay by Dallas Vieau. Luke Posthumus and Artemi Nizameyev each collected an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City outshot Lincoln 17-6 in the 2^nd period, but trailed by a 3-2 score entering the final period.
 
The lone goal of Friday's 3^rd period was scored into an empty net by Keaton Peters with under twenty seconds to play to seal Lincoln's two-goal victory over Tri-City. The Storm fell by a final score of 4-2 after outshooting the Stars by a 37-25 margin.
 
Ivan Zhigalov dropped the game in net for Tri-City after making 21 saves on 24 shots. Yan Shostak collected the win in goal for the Stars in a 35-save-on-37-shot performance. The Storm dropped to 12-9-1-1 on the year in the loss.
 
Last Saturday, the Storm hosted its annual Paint the Ice event ahead of tomorrow night's Concrete Cares game. Members of the local community painted messages on the ice at the Viaero Center to support those affected by cancer. Tomorrow night's rivalry matchup between the Storm and the Stars will be played on the painted ice, and proceeds raised during the postgame jersey auction will benefit Concrete Cares, on behalf of Kearney Concrete.
 
Concrete Cares is a volunteer group whose primary focus is fighting cancer on a local level. The mission of the organization is to make a difference in the local community by enabling friends, relatives, and families to join the fight to provide support for those stricken with cancer. More information on the group can be found at www.ConcreteCares.com.
 
Ticket specials for tomorrow's home game include a Nebraska Lottery Rivalry Pack. The rivalry pack ticket package includes four tickets to the game, four hot dogs, four sodas, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets for $44. For more information on tonight's ticket specials, call 308-338-8144.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Saturday, December 16^th, in a home game against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05pm CT. Skate to www.StormHockey.com for individual game tickets and more information regarding the Tri-City Storm organization. The Tri-City Storm is presented by Viaero Wireless.