KEARNEY – The Tri-City Storm suffered a shutout loss on home ice Saturday night by a final score of 4-0 to the Des Moines Buccaneers. Tri-City will return to action next weekend with a home-and-home series against the Lincoln Stars. The Storm’s final home game before the Clark Cup Playoffs will be played on Saturday, April 22nd.
Des Moines’ specialty teams provided the team with two goals in the opening five minutes of Saturday’s 1st period. Braden Rourke netted his tenth goal of the season forty-nine seconds into the matchup to give Des Moines a 1-0 lead. The goal was scored on the powerplay, and was assisted by Michael Bevilacqua, and Joey Muldowney. Jack Reimann scored a shorthanded goal at 4:47 of the 1st period to give the Buccaneers a two-goal lead in the matchup. Lubomir Kupco scored his seventeenth goal of the season with less than five minutes remaining in the period to give Des Moines a 3-0 lead in the game. Cayden Casey recorded an assist on the scoring play. The Storm outshot the Buccaneers 9-6 in Saturday’s opening period, but trailed by three goals entering the middle period.
Each team failed to find the back of the net for a scoring play during Saturday’s 2nd period, and the 3rd period began with the Storm trailing by three goals. Tri-City outshot Des Moines 13-6 during the middle period.
The lone goal of Saturday’s 3rd period was scored into an empty net by Braden Rourke with less than two minutes to play. Tri-City outshot Des Moines 13-4 in the 1st period, and 35-16 overall in the matchup.
Patriks Bērziņš dropped the game in goal for the Storm after making 12 saves on 15 shots. Buccaneers’ goaltender Jan Korec recorded his first shutout of the season after turning away all 35 of the Storm’s shots on goal during the contest.
The Storm’s final home game of the 2022-2023 regular season will be played on Saturday, April 22nd at the Viaero Center against the Lincoln Stars. The game will serve as Tri-City’s annual Fan Appreciation Night and Boy Scout Night. The Storm will wear specialty sweaters during the matchup that will be auctioned off following the game.
Tri-City hits the ice again on Friday, April 21st, in a road game against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. Skate to www.StormHockey.com for individual game tickets and more information regarding the Tri-City Storm organization.
