KEARNEY, NE. – The Tri-City Storm dropped a 3-2 home decision to the Lincoln Stars Saturday night at the Viaero Center in the organization's annual Kool-Aid Night game. All five goals were scored during the 3^rd period after a scoreless opening forty minutes of the rivalry game. Ryan Smith and A.J. Lacroix each netted a goal for the Storm in the loss. Tri-City returns to action tomorrow in another home game against Lincoln. Tomorrow's game is a rescheduled game from January 11^th, and will begin promptly at 4:05pm CT.
 
The opening period of Saturday's rivalry showdown at the Viaero Center ended in a scoreless tie. The Storm outshot the Stars by a 9-5 margin during the opening twenty minutes. Tri-City previously held a record of 5-6-3-1 when tied after the 1^st period this season.
 
The middle period of Saturday's contest ended with the score at 0-0. Tri-City outshot Lincoln by an 11-10 margin during the 2^nd period, and the 3^rd period began with each team in search of the game's first scoring play. The Storm entered Saturday's game with a 2-0-1-2 record when tied after the 2^nd period this season.
 
Blake Montgomery scored the first goal of Saturday's game to give the Stars a one-goal lead just sixty-five seconds into the 3^rd period. Keaton Peters and Layne Loomer each notched an assist on the scoring play. Keaton Peters netted his twentieth goal of the year at 4:29 of the period to give Lincoln a two-goal advantage in the matchup. Layne Loomer and Blake Montgomery each recorded an assist on the game's second goal. Ryan Smith netted his twenty-first goal of the season just over a minute later to bring the Storm within one goal of the Stars' lead. Smith's goal was assisted by Artemi Nizameyev and Cam Briere. A.J. Lacroix tied the game at 10:19 of the 3^rd period with his eleventh goal of the season. The goal was assisted by August Falloon. The final goal of Saturday's contest was scored by Jared Mangan with less than six minutes to play. The scoring play was Mangan's seventeenth of the year, and was assisted by Keaton Peters and Kai Janviriya. The Storm was outshot 11-9 in the 3^rd period, but outshot the Stars by an overall margin of 29-26 during the matchup. Tri-City dropped to 23-16-4-4 on the season, and 3-2-0-2 in head-to-head battles against Lincoln this season.
 
Cameron Korpi made 23 saves on 26 shots, and dropped the game in goal for Tri-City. Yan Shostak recorded the victory for Lincoln, turning away 27 of 29 shots faced.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Sunday, March 3^rd, in a home game against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop for the matchup is scheduled for 4:05pm 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.