Friday's box score

KEARNEY, Neb. – Luke Goukler, Ben Yurchuk, and Jackson Crowder goals combined with a stellar performance in net from Jack Parsons lifted the Chicago Steel to a 3-1 victory over the Tri-City Storm on Friday night at Viaero Center. 

Chicago (11-24-3, 25 pts) beat a Western Conference opponent for the second time in 11 games this season. Tri-City (18-17-3, 39 pts) put up 35 shots on goal in the contest, their highest total since producing 40 on December 27 at Omaha. 

The Storm were first to score. Nolan Roed fed Carson Pilgrim in the right wing circle of the Steel zone during Tri-City's third power play of the game. Pilgrim retrieved the puck, then flipped a snapshot toward Chicago's net. The puck redirected around Parsons and bounced into the cage for Pilgrim's fifth tally of the season. 

Chicago tied the contest late in the opening frame with their first of three unanswered. After Goukler raced down the right wing of neutral ice with the puck, the Merrimack commit broke around a pair of Storm defenders and moved in on Tri-City's net. Goukler stuffed a shot through Storm netminder Kyle Jones's five-hole for his eighth tally of the season. 

The Steel pulled ahead with a power play score 7:51 into the second. Yurchuk, also a Merrimack commit, raced the puck over the middle of Tri-City's blue line and into his offensive zone. After proceeding around a Storm defender on his way to the net, Yurchuk lifted a nifty backhand shot over Jones' left shoulder and into the Tri-City cage. 

Chicago doubled its advantage around five minutes into the third. Crowder, who was just acquired yesterday in a trade with Sioux City, gathered a rebound next to Jones in the Storm crease, then slid it past the Tri-City netminder's outstretched left pad. Crowder received his rebound after Jones stopped a Reid Conn shot from the high slot. 

The Storm pulled Jones with just over two minutes remaining in the third. Despite a handful of chances around Chicago's net, Tri-City could not equalize the game. 

A combined twelve penalties were issued in the contest, all of which were minors. Tri-City went 1-for-6 on the power play. Chicago was 1-for-4. 

Parsons, who stopped 35 of 36 shots in the Steel crease, has now halted 30 or more shots in three of his past four appearances. Jones, who collected his second loss in three starts with Tri-City this season, made 20 saves on the 23 shots he faced. 

Up next: Tri-City ends the two-game set with Chicago on Saturday during "Scouting with the Storm" night at Viaero Center. Puckdrop is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT. 

"Scouting with the Storm" is presented by the Overland Trails Council Boy Scouts. Tri-City will wear special scouting-themed jerseys during tomorrow's contest. 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.