Ryan Massa weathers the Storm

Ryan Massa weathered the Storm (pun intended) as the Force beat the Tri-City Storm 5-2 in Kearney, NE tonight.  The Force were outshot 46-26 in the game but got strong goaltending from Ryan Massa and capitalized on some key opportunities in the first and second periods on pace for a victory over the Storm of Tri-City.

In the first period, Oleg Yevenko opened the scoring on a slap shot that found the back of the net 5:16 into the game.  JP Burkemper and Nate Schmidt assisted on the goal.  Less than two minutes later the Force would get an awkward bounce on a shot from Garrett Allen from behind the net that went off Tri-City goalie Carsen Chubak's skate and found the net (Matt Leitner got an assist on the play).  For the third Force goal, Nate Schmidt was able to get a breakaway opportunity coming out of the box after serving a hooking penalty.  Schmidt would capitalize on that opportunity scoring on Chubak and extending the Force lead to 3-0 (Nate Condon with the assist).  Tri-City answered on the power play 18 seconds later with a goal from Kenny Brooks to make it 3-1.  Corey Leivermann would cap off the scoring in the first period on a feed from Chase Grant and Brian Cooper.  The Force took the lead going into the 3rd up 4-1.

The Force would score their second shorthanded goal of the game on a 2 on 1 opportunity between Matt Leitner and Johnnie Searfoss.  Johnnie Searfoss buried the goal assisted by Matt Leitner and Marek Hrbas.

Tri-City would net the only goal in the third period and the Force capped off their weekend with a 5-2 win over the Storm.  Ryan Massa was stellar in net stopping 44 shots for the Force.  Carsen Chubak stopped 21/26 shots for Tri-City.