KEARNEY, NE. – The Tri-City Storm dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Lincoln Stars Sunday night at the Viaero Center in the team's final game of 2023. Ryan Smith scored the Storm's only goal of the contest on the powerplay during the 1^st period. Tri-City returns to action next weekend at the Viaero Center with back-to-back home games against the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP/Team USA).
 
The lone goal of Sunday's opening period was netted on the powerplay by Ryan Smith. The scoring play was Smith's twelfth of the season, and was assisted by Alexander Bales. The goal was netted at 12:21 of the 1^st period. Each team recorded eleven shots on net during the opening twenty minutes of Sunday's rivalry contest, and Tri-City carried a 1-0 lead into the 2^nd period.
 
Keaton Peters scored the only goal of Sunday's 2^nd period to bring the game to a 1-1 tie. The goal was netted at 13:12 of the 2^nd period and was assisted by Juan Copeland. The Storm outshot the Stars 10-5 during the middle period, and the 3^rd period began in a 1-1 tie.
 
Tri-City outshot Lincoln 9-4 during the 3^rd period, but Sunday's matchup entered overtime after each team was unable to score. Lincoln outshot Tri-City 2-1 during the extra period, and the game required a three-round shootout to determine a winner. Ryan Spinale netted the only goal of the shootout to secure the victory for the Stars. Tri-City outshot Lincoln 31-23 overall in the matchup, but fell by a final score of 2-1 in a shootout. The Storm dropped to 13-11-1-2 on the year in the loss.
 
Cameron Korpi made 21 saves on 22 shots during regulation and overtime. Korpi turned away two of Lincoln's three shooters during the shootout, but recorded the loss in net for Tri-City. Yan Shostak made 30 saves on 31 shots, and denied every Storm shooter in the shootout session to collect the win in net for Lincoln.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Friday, January 5^th, in a home game against the Under-17's Team from the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP/Team USA). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm 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.