Thursday's box score

FRISCO, Texas – Four unanswered Fargo goals, three of which came in the final period, lifted the Force to a 4-1 victory over the Tri-City Storm on Thursday night at Comerica Center. The contest served as the first of two games in the USHL's Frosty Cup event. 

Fargo (20-12-4, 44 pts) snapped a season-high four game losing streak. Tri-City (17-16-3, 37 pts) is 3-3 across its six matchups in January. 

The teams began Thursday's contest with a fast-paced, scoreless first period. The Storm outshot Fargo 11-5 in the opening 20 minutes. 

Tri-City tallied the game's first goal on a power play late in the second. Shaun McEwen grabbed his fifth tally of the season on a low-to-the-ice one-timer from the high slot of the Fargo zone. McEwen was fed by Fort Worth, Texas native Colby Woogk, who had several friends and family in attendance. 

It took Fargo less than three minutes to answer. As the Force rushed into Tri-City's zone, Aaron Reierson slipped a quick feed to the top of the right wing circle, where Riley Bassen fired a snapshot past Storm goaltender Erick Roest. Bassen, who's from Frisco, grabbed his fifth tally of the year. 

The Force pulled away with a trio of third period tallies. Reierson gave Fargo its first lead of the night 4:48 into the frame. The Moorhead, Minnesota native received a beautiful backhand pass from Riley Bassen, who was positioned in the left wing corner of the Storm zone. Reierson retrieved the feed inside the right wing circle and fired a shot that hopped over Roest and bounced into Tri-City's net. 

A little over a minute later, Eero Butella was stopped by Roest on a breakaway at the Storm cage. Butella's backhand shot, which Roest halted with the right side of his body, generated a loose rebound in Tri-City's crease. Merril Steenari quickly pounced on the rebound to grab his team-high 18th goal of the season. 

Tri-City pulled Roest with a little over two minutes left in regulation. Fargo quickly capitalized with a Luke Schelter empty net goal at the 18:09 mark of the third. 

Roest halted 16 of 19 shots in the Storm net. Alan Lendak stopped 24 of 25 in Fargo's crease to collect his 14th win of the season. 

Up next: Tri-City closes the USHL Frosty Cup against Fargo tomorrow night. Puckdrop is scheduled for 7 pm CT. The contest will be broadcast on FloHockey and Storm Radio.