By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com

The Lancers hadn't been beaten in regulation since Jan. 5, a span of 18 games. Their point total almost doubled up Tri-City's (74-38).

The Storm had won two of its last 10 games. It was 1-4-1 against Omaha this year with the last two losses coming by a combined score of 14-5.

But this time saw the rare upset of Rock beating paper.

Tri-City goalie Aaron Rock turned away 45 Omaha shots in a 3-1 victory.

After giving up a goal 1 minute, 32 seconds into the game, Rock repeatedly stopped the target-practicing Lancers, who put up 33 shots over the final two periods.

"(Rock) made a couple spectacular saves," Tri-City coach Bliss Littler said. "For the most part, the quality chances they had, he was in position. He was in the right spot."

With Omaha (35-10-4) having a league-leading 186 goals, Rock knew he could be in for a busy night.

"When you play a hot team in the league, you prepare to win a 1-0 game as a goalie," Rock said. "You're not going to be able to get anything easy."

Rock has won three of his last four starts after suffering through an eight-game winless streak.

"Every goalie goes through stretches where they struggle," Rock said. "It's everyone, not just Tri-City goalies.

"You've got to work hard in practices and get out of it. When the sun comes up, you keep showing up and eventually you'll get out of it."

Tri-City (19-26-2) held the Lancers to an 0-for-6 night on the power play, including one in the final five minutes of the game. It also played a smart defensive game after taking the lead.

"We did a better job killing penalties and didn't take as many penalties," Littler said. "We backed up after playing well in the first period. Five minutes into the second period we ran out of gas.

"Injuries are taking their toll. We have three forward lines. I think the hockey gods smiled at us. I have not seen a team in five or six years play better than Omaha is."

Omaha looked to be off to another quick start with its early goal. From behind the net, Matt Thurber found Ben Arnt all alone in the high slot for a centering pass that resulted in Arnt's 18th goal of the year.

But Troy Mattila set up two Storm goals in a span of 1:06 to put the home team up.

At the end of his shift, Mattila sprung Alex Hudson for a breakaway in the neutral zone. With Mattila at the bench watching on, Hudson went in all alone and beat Omaha goalie Drew Palmisano top shelf at 11:33.

"The puck was chipped off the boards to me," Mattila said. "I saw a flash in the middle. When I put Alex and a breakaway, I'm sure he's going to score."

Omaha forward Andrew Conboy was called for interference 15 seconds later to put Tri-City on a power-play.

Again Mattila came through. His pass right-to-left in front of the crease found an open Chris Hickey, who gave the Storm a 2-1 lead at 12:39.

Mattila's two-assist game came one day after being benched for the final two periods of Friday's loss to Lincoln by Littler for what he felt was a lack of effort. He took the spot of Jordan Willert on the top line with Hudson and Mario Lamoureux after Willert was added the list of injured Tri-City forwards.

"I obviously didn't finish the game (against Lincoln)," Mattila said. "It was tough, but I played poorly. I had to make a statement (against Omaha)."

With only 10 forwards due to injuries, the Storm had to gain the lead early, Littler said.

"If we're playing catch-up against that team, it could look like a football score," he said. "It was important to get those scores right there. We needed those two quick ones."

Rock then stood out while making the lead hold up.

"I haven't seen a goalie play as well as he did tonight in a long time," Mattila said. "I can't put into words how well he played."

Still, the score remained a one-goal margin until almost the end.

Omaha pulled Palmisano for an extra attacker with 2:11 left in the game. With 43 seconds left Mike Cichy scored an empty-netter to secure the win.

The performance shows that the Storm isn't ready to just play out the season despite being 14 points out of a playoff spot with 13 games remaining.

"Bliss is doing a great job of making sure nobody is quitting," Rock said. "We're here to the end. We're going to work hard every day."

Mattila said: "We know making the playoffs will be difficult. Even if we win every game, we might not make it. But we're going to play hard."

Storm Watch

Tri-City wraps up its three-game weekend today at Sioux Falls. ...With an unsportsmanlike minor penalty with 0.9 seconds left, defenseman Pierre Paul Lamoureux tied Bobby Robins' record for penalties in a season with 180. In seven games against the Lancers, Cichy has three goals and five assists. He leads the team with 35 points and is tied with Mario Lamoureux with a team-high 23 assists.

Omaha 1 0 0 1

Tri-City 2 0 1 3

First period-1, Omaha, Arnt 18 (Thurber, Novak), 1:32; 2, Tri-City, Hudson 17 (Mattila, M. Lamoureux), 11:33; 3, Tri-City, Hickey 13 (Mattila, Cichy), 12:39 (pp). Penalties-Conboy, Omaha (holding), 4:26; Craig, Tri-City (tripping), 7:33; Conboy, Omaha (interference), 11:48; Cooper, Tri-City (tripping), 19:36.

Second period-none. Penalties-P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (checking from behind), 4:06; Elbrecht, Omaha (delay of game), 16:45; Heath, Tri-City (delay of game), 16:45; Martell, Tri-City (tripping), 17:23.

Third period-4, Tri-City, Cichy 12 (Hickey, M. Lamoureux), 19:17 (en). Penalties-Jaskowiak, Tri-City (hooking), 1:31; Hudson, Tri-City (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:02; O'Neil, Omaha (elbowing), 6:02; Hepp, Omaha (delay of game), 6:02; M. Lamoureux, Tri-City (delay of game), 6:02; P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (cross checking), 14:59; O'Neil, Omaha (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:59; P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:59.

Shots-on-goal-Omaha 13-15-1846, Tri-City 9-6-621.

Power-play opportunities-Omaha 0 for 6, Tri-City 1 for 2.

Goaltenders-Omaha, Palmisano 25-7-2 (20 shots-18 saves). Tri-City, Rock 11-16-2 (46-45).

Attendance-3,478.

Referee-Eugene Binda. Linesmen-Nate Swanson.