By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com

On Friday, Lincoln switched things up and handed the Storm a bad third period instead.

The Stars scored three times in the third, including twice in a span of 1 minute, 7 seconds, to post a 4-2 come-from-behind victory.

One thing that didn't change for Tri-City was untimely penalties that prove to be costly.

Lincoln (25-18-4) tied it up at 6:54 of the third on Jimmy Hayes' second power-play goal of the game.

Hayes, who previously had one goal in seven games with the Stars, scored 22 seconds after Tri-City defenseman Pierre Paul Lamoureux was sent to the penalty box for cross checking.

Rick Carden backhanded a rebound past Storm goalie Nick Hopper at 8:01 to put Lincoln up for good 3-2. The Stars outshot Tri-City 13-4 over the final 20 minutes.

"Before the game started I said the way this team beats us is off odd-man rushes and power plays," Littler said.

The Storm (18-26-2) gave the Stars eight power-play chances.

Prior to Hayes' second goal, Tri-City looked to put itself in position to pull off the upset.

The Storm played solid all-around while taking a 2-1 lead against the Stars and standout goaltender David Reekie, who easily leads the league with a 1.72 goals against average and .945 save percentage.

"We played a game we could have won," Littler said. "We came into the third with the lead and a chance to win and shot ourselves in the foot."

The teams traded power-play goals in the first period. Lincoln only needed 27 seconds of its first man advantage to convert when Hayes put away a rebound at 4:46.

Tom Craig answered on the Storm's first power play to tie it at 9:59.

Diederick Hagemeijer and Phil Ginand teamed up to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead at 5:14 of the second. Hagemeijer skated around Lincoln defenseman Lyon Messier at the top of the slot and sent a pass ahead to Ginand.

Ginand took it from there, going right to left in front of the crease before finding an opening against Reekie for his ninth goal of the year.

Messier, the son of Hall of Famer Mark, was shaken up on the play and stayed on the ice for several seconds after the goal. He returned to the game later in the second.

Tri-City couldn't add to that lead prior to the second intermission despite holding a 2-man advantage for 1:44 late in the second.

Tri-City had another key power-play chance late in the third only to come up empty. Matt Bartkowski was called for cross checking with 1:13 left and the Storm pulled Hopper for a 2-man advantage.

But Tri-City didn't manage a shot on goal, and with 26 seconds left Michael Sdao sent a puck the length of the ice from the right corner for an insurance empty-netter.

Reekie finished with 26 saves. Hopper, making his first start against his former team, had 29 stops.

"(Hopper) played well," Littler said. "He gave us a chance."

With a few exceptions, the coach was also happy with the rest of the team's effort.

"We have nine forwards right now (due to injuries)," Littler said. "I sent one guy off after the first period. If someone is not out there trying to win, I don't want you here. Next time I won't send him to his housing parents, I'll send him home. About two guys did not give a good effort.

"But the better team won."

Storm Watch

The loss dropped the Storm 16 points behind the Stars and Sioux Falls, who are tied for third in the West Division, with 14 games left. Tri-City defenseman Pierre Paul Lamoureux had three minor penalties to up his team-leading total to 174 penalty minutes. He is six PIM behind the team single-season record set by Bobby Robins in 2001-02. In only 37 games, Lamoureux is 10th on the team's career penalty minute list. Tri-City's version of rivalry weekend continues with a home game against Omaha today.

Lincoln 1 0 3 4

Tri-City 1 1 0 2

First period-1, Lincoln, Hayes 2 (Kretzer, Messier), 4:46 (pp); 2, Tri-City, Craig 3 (Hudson, Heath), 9:59 (pp). Penalties-Cooper, Tri-City (interference), 4:19; Bollig, Lincoln (interference), 8:51; Hagemeijer, Tri-City (interference), 11:12; Messier, Lincoln (delay of game), 18:35; M. Lamoureux, Tri-City (delay of game), 18:35.

Second period-3, Tri-City, Ginand 9 (Hagemeijer), 5:14. Penalties-P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (interference), 1:45; Newton, Lincoln (interference), 3:10; Franks, Tri-City (high sticking), 8:13; Craig, Tri-City (checking from behind), 11:11; Bollig, Lincoln (delay of game), 13:37; Bollig, Lincoln (delay of game), 13:37; P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (delay of game), 13:37; Gregoire, Lincoln (elbowing), 15:18; M. Lamoureux, Tri-City, minor-misconduct (checking from behind), 15:32; Dalhuisen, Lincoln (elbowing), 17:39; Henry, Lincoln (roughing), 17;56; Follmer, Lincoln (delay of game), 17:56; Hickey, Tri-City (delay of game), 17:56.

Third period-4, Lincoln, Hayes 3 (Messier, Gregoire), 6:54 (pp); 5, Lincoln, Carden 13 (Bartkowski, Bollig), 8:01; 6, Lincoln, Sdao 3, 19:34 (en, sh). Penalties-P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (cross checking), 6:54; Ginand, Tri-City, minor-misconduct (tripping-abuse of officials), 13:24; Bartkowski, Lincoln, minor-misconduct (cross checking-abuse of officials), 18:47.

Shots-on-goal-Lincoln 11-9-13 33, Tri-City 10-14-4 28.

Power-play opportunities-Lincoln 2 for 8, Tri-City 1 for 6.

Goaltenders-Lincoln, Reekie 18-6-2 (28 shots-26 saves). Tri-City, Hopper 7-7-0 (32-29).

Attendance-2,862.

Referee-Matt Miller. Linesmen-Nate Swanson.