By Kevin Scott
GILLETTE, Wyo., December 7, 2013 — After a scoreless first period, the Americans added three goals in the middle period including two by Aaron McInnis, the team leader in goals scored, to give the Americans a 4-1 victory over the Gillette Wild on Saturday night in Wyoming. The Wild avoided a shutout by the Americans as TJ McMinn scored on a power play with 2:59 left in the AWHL contest. The Americans went 1-1 in their weekend series against the Gillette franchise as the Wild picked up a 4-2 win on Friday night and snapped the Americans nine game winning streak.
Both defenses never allowed their opponent to score any points during the first period. Aaron McInnis netted two of the three second period goals that the Americans were able to capitalize on. Great Falls native Brady Christiaens assisted on the first goal halfway through the second period. In addition to Christiaens assist on McInnis’ scoring drive, he scored with 6:50 on the clock. He currently leads the team in goals scored with 21. Erik Gatson found McInnis with three second remaining in the period to push Great Falls lead to 3-1 over the hometown Gillette Wild.
It took nearly 43 minutes of actual game time before Gillette got on scoreboard with a TJ McMinn goal. Brandon Miller and Dalton McCann each received an assist on McMinn’s power play goal. Lucas Lomax, the Americans second leading scorer, added his 16th goal of the season before the end of the contest. His empty net and unassisted goal came with four seconds remaining.
Both teams accrued a total of 30 minutes of penalties on 15 infractions. Erik Powell got the win for the Americans as he stopped 32 shots while Gillette goaltenders Michael Kitts and Sean Kelly combined for 25 saves.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans (19-6) will be on the road on Thursday, December 12th to face the Glacier Nationals (12-13) in Whitefish, MT at 7:00PM. The Americans do not return to home ice until 2014 when they face the Billings Bulls on Saturday, January 11th.
|
Period 1 |
Period 2 |
Period 3 |
Final |
| Great Falls |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Gillette |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
First Period – NO SCORING.
Second Period – 1, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (assisted by Brady Christiaens), 10:55. 2, Great Falls, Brady Christiaens (assisted by Cody Page, Doug Keller), 13:10. 3, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (Erik Gatson), 19:56.
Third Period –4, Gillette, T.J. McMinn (power play) (Brandon Miller, Dalton McCann), 17:01. 5, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (empty net) (unassisted), 19:56.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 29, Gillette 33.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-2, Gillette 1-for-5.
Attendance – 520
Box Score: Great Falls @ Gillette
| Great Falls |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Gillette |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
| Great Falls |
14 |
7 |
8 |
29 |
| Gillette |
6 |
10 |
17 |
33 |
|
|
|
| Great Falls 0 – 2 : Gillette 1 – 5 |
|
|
| Great Falls – Lucas Stover – (Elbowing), 2 MIN, 15:04 |
Gillette – Jonathan Kasdorf – (Holding), 2 MIN, 6:01
Great Falls – Lucas Lomax – (Elbowing), 2 MIN, 6:01
Gillette – TJ McMinn – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 10:39
Great Falls – Connor Barta – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 10:39
Gillette – Darren Banks – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 18:27
Great Falls – Max Kaercher – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 18:27 |
Great Falls – Lucas Lomax – (Tripping), 2 MIN, 1:37
Gillette – Moco Willis – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 MIN, 8:49
Great Falls – Cody Page – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 9:39
Great Falls – Dylan Garton – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 12:18
Great Falls – Lucas Stover – (Interference), 2 MIN, 15:29
Gillette – Darren Banks – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 18:03
Great Falls – Paul Sartuche – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 18:03 |
|
| # |
NAME |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
S |
PIM |
| 1 |
Powell, Erik |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3 |
Strong, Bridger |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4 |
Sartuche, Paul |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 6 |
Garton, Dylan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 7 |
Page, Cody |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+3 |
0 |
2 |
| 8 |
Lomax, Lucas |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
4 |
| 9 |
Goran, Steven |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 10 |
Keller, Doug |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 11 |
Kaercher, Max |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+3 |
0 |
2 |
| 16 |
Mese, Zack |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 17 |
Gatson, Erik |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 20 |
Christiaens, Brady |
1 |
1 |
2 |
+3 |
0 |
0 |
| 23 |
Stover, Lucas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+3 |
0 |
4 |
| 29 |
Barta, Connor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 30 |
Hauser, Evan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 93 |
McInnis, Aaron |
2 |
0 |
2 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
|
| # |
NAME |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
S |
PIM |
| 5 |
Sigala, Adan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 6 |
Reble, Tyler |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 7 |
Mitzel, Bryce |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 8 |
Sauers, Greg |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 10 |
Miller, Brandon |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 11 |
Mead, Nick |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 12 |
Fobair, Will |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
| 15 |
Willis, Moco |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-3 |
0 |
4 |
| 16 |
McCann, Dalton |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
| 17 |
Istominov, Andrii |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-3 |
0 |
0 |
| 20 |
McMinn, TJ |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 21 |
Kasdorf, Jonathan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
2 |
| 23 |
Papesh, Collin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 24 |
Lantz, Rob |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 25 |
King, Alex |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
| 26 |
Eldridge, Dylan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
| 29 |
Banks, Darren |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
4 |
| 30 |
Kitts, Michael |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 31 |
Kelley, Sean |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 33 |
Castleberry, Brandon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Great Falls 18 minutes on 9 infractions Gillette 12 minutes on 6 infractions |
|
Game Length: 2:30
Attendance: 520 |
|
Great Falls 4
Gillette 1