Sunday's box score

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Artemi Nizameyev and Shaun McEwen multi-point performances powered the Tri-City Storm to a 5-2 win over the Sioux City Musketeers on Sunday at Tyson Events Center. The Storm put up a season-high 45 shots on goal in the contest. 

Tri-City (28-28-4, 60 pts) won five of six matchups in the regular season series with the Musketeers. Sioux City (31-22-7, 69 pts) snapped a season-long seven-game winning streak. 

The Musketeers' Sunday regulation loss and Waterloo's Sunday regulation win at Muskegon solidified the top four seeds for the Western Conference playoffs. Lincoln (#1) will lead the pack, followed by Sioux Falls (#2), Waterloo (#3), and Sioux City (#4). Tri-City and Fargo have also clinched playoff berths. 

The Storm can occupy the fifth or sixth seed. Fargo, currently in fifth place with 62 points, holds a two-point advantage over the sixth-place Storm. Every USHL team has two games remaining in the regular season. Fargo can clinch the five seed by collecting at least three standings points in their home-and-home series with Sioux Falls on Friday and Saturday. The Storm will face Lincoln in a home-and-home set Friday and Saturday. 

Tri-City outshot Sioux City 13-5 in Sunday's opening frame, but the Musketeers led 1-0 after twenty minutes. In the midst of a Sioux City rush, Landen Gunderson shipped a pass to Giacomo Martino at the right circle of Tri-City's zone. The Toronto native blasted a one-timer over the glove side of Storm netminder Michal Pradel for his team-leading 21st goal of the season, which came 6:31 into the game.  

Tri-City tied the contest early in the second. Artemi Nizameyev drove the puck down the left wing of Sioux City's zone, then cut toward the Musketeer net. As he approached Sioux City goaltender Samuel Urban, Nizameyev lifted a backhand shot to the roof of the cage for his second tally in as many games. 

The Storm jumped ahead just past the halfway mark of the middle period. As Tri-City possessed in the offensive zone, Rylan Bonkowski lugged the puck behind Sioux City's net, then stuffed a quick wraparound attempt inside the left post with 10:16 gone by in the frame. 

Sioux City evened the contest with a power play marker about five minutes later. Following a board battle, Martino set up Nicholas Sykora in the Tri-City slot with a one-time feed from the left corner. Sykora's blast snuck through Pradel for his first goal in 11 games. 

With the contest tied 2-2 after forty minutes, Tri-City came up with a massive third period, putting up a trio of goals to produce the win. 

McEwen netted the eventual game-winner just over three minutes into the frame. Nizameyev fed his fellow Miami commit from the right circle as McEwen cut down the left wing. The shot beat Urban on the blocker side. It was the South Hadley, Massachusetts native's seventh of the season. 

Slightly over six minutes later, Cooper Simpson extended his goal streak to three games. The North Dakota commit received a McEwen stretch feed at the Sioux City line and dashed solo toward Urban. After a forehand-backhand deek, Simpson lifted the puck above Urban's left leg to double Tri-City's lead. 

Sioux City pulled Urban with approximately 3:30 left, but did not score with an extra attacker. Tri-City found the vacant cage 17:27 into the third. Attila Lippai intercepted a Musketeer centering pass in the Tri-City zone and blasted the puck approximately 175 feet. Lippai tallied five goals across the Storm's six regular season games with Sioux City. 

Pradel stopped 18 of 20 Sioux City shots en route to his third win in four starts. Urban halted 39 of 43 attempts in his first loss since March 8. 

Up next: On Wednesday, April 9, the Storm would like to invite all fans to the Kearney Raising Cane's for a special meet-and-greet featuring Tri-City players and coaches. The event will take place between 7 - 9 pm. Storm players will be available to sign autographs and take pictures. Stormy will additionally appear between 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Those in attendance can enter a drawing for a chance to win 2025-2026 Storm season tickets and a Raising Cane's Gift Basket. 

Tri-City ends its regular season with a home-and-home series next weekend against Lincoln. 

The Storm visit the Stars on Friday. Puckdrop is set for 7:05 pm CT. 

Saturday, the series shifts to Viaero Center for 25th Anniversary and Fan Appreciation Night. Puckdrop is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT. During the contest, Storm players and Stormy will wear special 25th Anniversary-themed uniforms to celebrate the 25th season of Tri-City Storm Hockey. Each uniform will be auctioned off live on the ice after the game.

In addition, each fan who purchases a ticket to Saturday's matchup will be automatically entered to win a variety of prizes from local businesses. 

Saturday is also a Nebraska Lottery Rivalry Pack night. Get four tickets, four hot dogs, four cans of soda, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch off tickets for only $44. Availability is limited. 

To purchase tickets or the Nebraska Lottery Rivalry Pack for Saturday's matchup, visit stormhockey.com, call the Storm at 308-338-8144, or stop by the Viaero Center box office in-person. 

Each game of the home-and-home set will be broadcast on FloHockey and Storm Radio. 

Playoff tickets: Tickets for potential Tri-City home playoff games will go on sale immediately after seeding is determined for the 2024-2025 Western Conference Playoffs following the April 12 conclusion of the USHL regular season. Playoff tickets will be available at stormhockey.com, by calling 308-338-8144, or stopping by the Viaero Center box office in-person.