By Kevin Scott
BOZEMAN, Mont., October 25, 2013 — It becomes hard to lose when a hockey team scores eight goals in a game and that is exactly what the Great Falls Americans did on Saturday night as they cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Bozeman Ice Dogs at Haynes Pavilion.
The Americans opened up with four goals in the first period as Lucas Lomax wasted little time in connecting on a short-handed goal 47 seconds into the contest. Donovan Mattfeldt and Erik Gatson were each credited with an assist. Gatson recorded his second assist on Aaron McInnis’ goal to increase Great Falls’ lead to 2-0. Cody Page and Steven Goran rounded out the scoring for coach Jeff Heimel’s squad in the opening period.
After Aaron McInnis’ unassisted goal, Erik Gatson and Steven Goran each put the puck in the back of the net past the Bozeman goalie. Bozeman’s Gunnar Mogck scored on a power play with just over 11 minutes remaining in the period for the Ice Dogs’ first score of the evening. The Americans only power play goal was by Johnathan Carpenter midway through the second period. Austin Nottke would get the final goal of the period for the Ice Dogs with 1:05 remaining to cut the deficit for Bozeman to 8-2.
The Americans defense held Bozeman to just one goal in third stanza. Kegan Couture added the final points of the evening.
Great Falls goaltender, Erik Powell stopped 15 of Bozeman’s 17 shots in just over 51 minutes of action. Christian Rice had one save on two attempts. Meanwhile, Bozeman’s Zach Skop and Chance Turner combined for 25 saves in the loss.
Gatson finished the evening with two goals and two assists while Gunnar Mogck and Kegan Couture led Bozeman with a one goal and two assists apiece.
The Great Falls Americans remained in sole possession of first place in the AWHL with their 10th win of the season (10-0). Bozeman is still looking for their second victory of the season and they fall to 1-7.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls will take on the Helena Bighorns at 7:30PM at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday, October 26th.
Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Final | |
Great Falls | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
Bozeman | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
First Period – 1, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (short handed) (assists by Donovan Mattfeldt, Erik Gatson), 0:47. 2, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (Erik Gatson), 3:44. 3, Great Falls, Cody Page (unassisted), 3:54. 4, Great Falls, Steven Goran (Johnathan Carpenter, Dylan Garton), 14:37.
Second Period – 5, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (unassisted), 3:26. 6, Great Falls, Erik Gatson (Aaron McInnis, Lucas Lomax), 5:32. 7, Great Falls, Steven Goran (Dylan Garton), 6:24. 8, Bozeman, Gunnar Mogck (power play) (Austin Nottke, Chase Engdahl), 7:08. 9, Great Falls, Johnathan Carpenter (power play) (Bryan Larson, Dylan Garton), 10:02. 10, Bozeman, Austin Nottke (power play) (Kegan Couture, Gunnar Mogck), 18:55.
Third Period – 11, Bozeman, Kegan Couture (Gunnar Mogck, Ryan Erickson), 14:58.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 33, Bozeman 19.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 1-for-10, Bozeman 2-for-6.
Attendance – Not Announced.
Box Score: Great Falls at Bozeman
inal | Haynes Pavillion Fri, Oct 25, 2013 7:30 PM MST |
Great Falls 8 | Bozeman 3 |
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