By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com

By blanking Tri-City 2-0, the fourth-place Musketeers moved 14 points ahead of the Storm in the West Division.

With Tri-City having nine games left, it could be officially eliminated from playoff contention as soon as Friday.

Josh Robinson stopped 29 shots for the Musketeers, who scored both of their goals in a span of 4 minutes, 41 seconds of the second period.

While Tri-City (21-28-2) didn't appear to have its sharpest outing, that had to do with how Sioux City (28-20-2) played.

"A lot of that had to do with Sioux City," Storm coach Bliss Littler said. "We had a tough time dealing with their speed.

"(Goaltender) Nick Hopper gave us a chance to win. But it may have looked like we didn't have our best game."

Mitch Bruijsten deflected a shot from in front of the net at 6:22 of the second and Spencer Heichman put away a rebound at 11:03. That was more than enough scoring for Robinson, as Sioux City consistently generated the better scoring chances.

The Musketeers improved to 5-0-0 this season against Tri-City, the major reason for their large lead in the playoff race.

Despite that, Littler said this loss wasn't any tougher than any other.

"I'm worried about winning the next hockey game. I'm resigned to the fact we dug a hole for ourselves," he said. "As a coach, each game left we need to get better."

With only 10 healthy forwards, the Storm needs to play differently to get its scoring going again.

"When you have three lines, you're not going to keep the puck in by cycling it," Littler said. "You need to score more off the rush."

Storm Watch

Hopper finished with 34 saves in a third straight solid outing. But it'll be Aaron Rock who starts Friday at home against Sioux Falls. "I told the goalies a month ago if you win, you stay in," Littler said. The shutout saw left wing Alex Hudson's seven-game point streak come to an end. The Storm wraps up its five-game home stand this weekend against the Stampede Friday and against Des Moines on Saturday. That game has a 3:05 p.m. start.

Sioux City 0 2 0 2

Tri-City 0 0 0 0

First period-none. Penalties-P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (checking from behind), 15:57; bench, Tri-City (too many men), 18:53.

Second period-1, Sioux City, Bruijsten 12 (Helgeson, Tuckerson), 6:22; 2, Sioux City, Heichman 21 (Quailer), 11:03. Penalties-Keenan, Sioux City (roughing), 13:30; P. Lamoureux, Tri-City (cross checking), 17:49.

Third period-none. Penalties-Da Costa, Sioux City (hooking), 1:36; M. Lamoureux, Tri-City (interference), 5:34; Peltoma, Tri-City (slashing), 11:46; Serratore, Sioux City (holding), 15:28.

Shots-on-goal-Sioux City 11-15-10--36, Tri-City 6-13-10--29.

Power-play opportunities-Sioux City 0 for 5, Tri-City 0 for 3.

Goaltenders-Sioux City, Robinson 18-12-1 (29 shots-29 saves). Tri-City, Hopper 9-8-0 (36-34).

Attendance-1,875.

Referee-Tim Mayer. Linesmen-Tom Steinel, Ian Shaver.