Friday's box score
FRISCO, Texas – Attila Lippai's eventual game-winning goal in the third period and Kyle Jones' first career win in net helped lift the Tri-City Storm to a 2-1 victory over the Fargo Force on Friday night at Comerica Center.
The contest served as the finale of a two-game set between the clubs at the USHL's Frosty Cup event.
Tri-City (18-16-3, 39 pts) earned a split in the two-game series. Fargo (20-13-4, 44 pts) has lost four of its past five games.
Tri-City was first to get on the scoreboard and did so in the middle part of the opening period. During a Storm offensive zone possession, Ilya Morozov received a feed behind the Fargo net from Carmelo Crandell. Morozov toured the attacking zone, taking the puck up the right wing boards to the blue line, then cutting through the slot to the left wing circle. The Miami commit fired a quick snapshot as he entered the left wing circle past Fargo goaltender Alan Lendak. It was Morozov's ninth tally of the season.
Each team traded numerous quality scoring chances throughout the second period, but a goal wasn't scored until the final minutes of the frame.
Fargo tied the contest during a 2-on-1 rush at the 17:55 mark of the second. Merri Steenari, who carried the puck down the right wing into the Storm zone, ripped a snapshot toward Jones from the top of the right wing circle. The puck hit the crossbar then rattled into Tri-City's net. It was the Colorado College commit's team-leading 19th tally of the year.
The game remained knotted up until the middle part of the third. Lippai scored the eventual game winner with a rapid one-time shot in front of the Fargo net that rocketed past the glove side of Lendak. Carson Pilgrim fed Lippai from the right wing corner.
Still down by a goal with two minutes left, Fargo pulled Lendak for a 6-on-5 advantage, but couldn't find an equalizer. The Force created numerous excellent chances, including one in the final seconds, where Jones was required to make a series of key saves to keep Tri-City's lead.
Jones, who stopped 23 of 24 Fargo shots to earn the victory, made numerous key saves throughout the game to contribute in Tri-City's win.
Lendak was also strong in Fargo's net, halting 29 of 31 Storm shots on Friday. The Slovakia native, who also started Thursday's contest, turned aside 53 of 56 Tri-City attempts across the series.
Up next: Tri-City returns home to face the Chicago Steel next Friday and Saturday. Puckdrop on Friday is slated for 7:05 pm CT. Saturday's game will begin at 6:05 pm CT.
Pizza Ranch is now sponsoring $5 Kid's Fridays for the rest of the season. The first 50 kid's tickets purchased at the box office for every Friday Storm home game will receive a preloaded $5 gift card to the FunZone arcade located inside of Pizza Ranch in Kearney.
On Saturday, the Storm will host "Scouting with the Storm" presented by the Overland Trails Council Boy Scouts. Tri-City will wear special scouting-themed jerseys on the ice. Each jersey worn by a Storm player and Stormy will be auctioned off live on the ice after the game. The council will also set up various activities on the concourse, including a BB gun range, soapbox derby car racing track, and more.
To purchase tickets, visit stormhockey.com, call the Storm at 308-338-8144, or stop by the Viaero Center box office in-person. FunZone Friday tickets are only available in-person at the box office.
