KEARNEY, NE. – The Tri-City Storm dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the league-leading Fargo Force Saturday night at the Viaero Center. Charlie Kinsman, Artemi Nizameyev, and Cam Briere each netted a goal during regulation time for Tri-City in the loss. The three-game weekend series will conclude in Sunday's "United Way Game" and "St. Patrick's Day Game" at the Viaero Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:05pm CT.
 
As an appreciation to the Storm fans for their support this weekend, and all season long, fans are encouraged to bring their ticket from either home game this weekend to the Viaero Center Box Office tomorrow and receive a free ticket to tomorrow's matchup. A valid ticket from Friday's home game on Friday, March 15^th or Saturday, March 16^th,will be honored in tomorrow's special promotion.
 
Tomorrow's game will serve as the organization's annual "United Way Game" and will also feature a St. Patrick's Day promotion. Tri-City will wear specialty sweaters during the matchup that will be auctioned off following the game. A select number of Nebraska Lottery Family Four-Packs are also available. The four-pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets for only $44. This special ticket package is available in limited quantities, and often sells out prior to puck drop. Please contact the Viaero Center Box Office for the latest ticket information.
 
Charlie Kinsman netted his third goal of the season with less than three minutes to play in Saturday's opening period to give Tri-City a 1-0 lead in the matchup. Shaun McEwen and Jake Rozzi each recorded an assist on the scoring play. The Storm was outshot by a 10-9 margin during Saturday's 1^st period, but carried a 1-0 lead into the 2^nd period.
 
Mac Swanson's twenty-second goal of the season for the Force brought the game to a 1-1 tie at 4:19 of Saturday's middle period. The goal was assisted by Leo Gruba. Gruba scored his eighteenth goal of the season at 7:44 of the 2^nd period to give Fargo a one-goal advantage in the battle. Iiro Hakkarainen notched an assist on the scoring play. Artemi Nizameyev tied the game at 2-2 with his fifteenth goal of the season at 8:01 of the 2^nd period for the Storm. Trevor Connelly recorded an assist on the scoring play. Lee Parks gave Fargo the lead twenty seconds later with his twenty-sixth goal of the year. Zam Plante notched an assist on the scoring play. The final goal of Saturday's high-scoring 2^nd period was netted by Cam Briere with over ten minutes remaining in the period. The goal was Briere's nineteenth of the season, and was assisted by Jake Rozzi. The Storm outshot the Force 6-5 in the 2^nd period, and Saturday's 3^rd period began in a 3-3 tie.
 
Tri-City outshot Fargo 7-6 during Saturday's 3^rd period, but neither team found a go-ahead goal. The Force outshot the Storm during a scoreless five-minute overtime period, and the game required a shootout to determine a winner. Zam Plante, Gavin Morrissey, and Jake Fisher netted goals for the Force during the four-round shootout. Vsevolod Logvin and Trevor Connelly each notched a goal for the Storm. Jake Fisher's goal was the winning goal of the shootout, and Tri-City dropped to 25-18-4-5 in the loss. The Storm enters tomorrow's final game of the season series with a record of 2-2-0-1 in head-to-head games played against the Force this season.
 
Thatcher Bernstein dropped the game in goal for the Storm after making 21 saves on 24 shots in sixty-five minutes of game time. Anton Castro recorded the win in net for the Force in a 21-save-on-24-shot effort.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Sunday, March 17^th, in a home game against the Fargo Force. Puck drop for the matchup is scheduled for 3:05pm 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.