Tri-City uses three power play goals to beat Fargo

The Tri-City Storm used three power play power play goals to skate past the Fargo Force 4-3 in United States Hockey League action at Scheels Arena on Saturday night.

The Storm took an early 1-0 lead when Dylan Maller sent a long shot past Force goaltender Reed Peters on the power play. Peters, who was playing in just his third game since December 10^th, appeared to see the long shot, but was unable to make the save.

Tri-City added to the lead when they scored early in the second period. The goal marked the third time in the weekend series that the Storm scored in the first five minutes of a period.

The Force finally solved Tri-City goaltender and Minnesota recruit Adam Wilcox in the back end of the middle frame. Williston, North Dakota native Jordan Nelson flicked a rebound over Wilcox’s shoulder for the first Fargo tally of the game. Jonny Brodzinski (St. Cloud State) and David Mead gathered in assists on the play.

The power play worked to the Force’s advantage in the final two minutes of the second period. The Storm took back-to-back penalties 27 seconds apart and the home team made them pay with a five-on-three power play goal.

Dom Racobaldo sent a pass from the face-off dot to the top of the slot to Nebraska-Omaha commit Brian Cooper, who sent a one-time blast towards the net. Stanislav Dzakhov deflected the shot past Wilcox for his fourth power play goal in his last three games.

The Force threw 28 shots at Wilcox through two periods, but could only break the seal twice on the goals late in the second period. Force head coach John Marks said he felt that despite the number of chances, his team wasn’t generating as many high-end chances as they did in Friday’s 3-1 victory.

Tri-City continued their power play scoring barrage with goals at the 3 minute, 12 second mark and the 13 minute, 31 second mark of the third period to regain the lead and extend it to two. Kenny Brooks and Andrew Dorantes were the beneficiaries of the man advantage goals.

The visiting Storm finished the night 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Force went 1-for-5 in the game.

Peters went to the bench with just less than two minutes remaining in the game in favor of the extra attacker and the Force came through with a goal to cut the deficit to one. Western Michigan Colton Hargrove commit fed Taylor Richart, who sent a blast towards the net that Nicholas Stoskopf deflected in.

The Force continued to flurry, but could not to tie the game.

“Our desperation didn’t come until the end, and I didn’t feel that we played with the desperation that’s necessary for a lot of the game as we did towards the end,” Marks said.

Marks said that his team talked before the game about how to approach Wilcox, who made 35 saves in the game. He told the players where to shoot to have the best chance to score and where not to shoot.

The first two chances of the game went right where Marks told the players not to shoot, he said after the game.

“The old expression: you can hear me, but are you listening? Marks said.“They’re young, and they’re learning, and it’s repetition, repetition, repetition.”

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By: Tim How

Photo: mJoy Photography