By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 9, 2013 — The Great Falls Americans finally defeated the Helena Bighorns after Helena defeated them in the previous three meetings this season. It took the Americans two overtimes but they found the winning formula against the top team in the AWHL as they edged the Bighorns 2-1 in front of 711 supportive fans.
Lithia Motors was the Sponsor of the Night and many fans took advantage of the opportunity to pick up free tickets at the local car dealership for Saturday’s matchup.
Defense was the name of the game during the first two periods of action at the Great Falls Ice Plex as both teams were held scoreless. Aaron McInnis failed to capitalize on the penalty shot for Great Falls with 9:03 left in second period after Helena goaltender Alek Lazarski was whistled for interference. The Bighorns out-shot the Americans after forty minutes 26-20. There was a slight delay with 15:41 remaining in the second period as two players hit the sideboards hard enough to shatter the plexi-glass into the crowd. AWHL officials were about to replace the broken plexi-glass panel and play resumed after a short break.
The Americans struck first in the third period as Zach Mese grabbed his third goal of the season. His short-handed goal took place with 17:17 remaining in regulation with Connor Barta and Lucas Stover each getting an assist. However, Great Falls’ lead was short-lived as Theo Campe’s power play goal tied the contest up 31 seconds later. Parker Olsen and Logan Henne added the assists on the Helena scoring opportunity.
Campe’s goal sent the game into overtime but after neither team scored, the AWHL contest went into a second five minute overtime and the extra time provided the opportunity that Great Falls needed. Lucas Lomax scored the game-winning goal during the first 1:25 to give coach Jeff Heimel and the Americans the upset victory over rival Helena. Mese recorded his ninth assist of the season on the play while Barta collected his eighth assist in 15 games including two tonight.
Evan Hauser stopped 46 shot attempts by Helena while Alek Lazarski finished the night with 33 saves. Both teams combined for only 14 minutes of penalty time on seven infractions.
Despite the double overtime victory, Great Falls still remains in second place with a 12-3 record while Helena suffered only their second setback of the season (13-1-1). The Bighorns only other loss was against the Yellowstone Quake on October 4th.
NEXT CONTEST: The Yellowstone Quake (Cody, WY) invades the Great Falls Ice Plex to take on the Great Falls Americans for a two game series on Friday and Saturday, November 15-16th with each game beginning at 7:30PM.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | 1st OT | 2nd OT | Final | |
| Great Falls | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Helena | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
First Period – NO SCORING
Second Period – NO SCORING: Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (unsuccessful penalty shot), 10:53.
Third Period – 1, Great Falls, Zachary Mese (short-handed, assisted by Connor Barta and Lucas Stover) 2:43. 2, Helena, Theo Campe (power play) (assisted by Parker Olsen, Logan Henne), 3:14.
First Overtime – NO SCORING
Second Overtime – 3, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (Zachary Mese, Connor Barta) 1:25.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 35, Helena 47.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-2, Helena 1-for-3.
Attendance – 711
Box Score: Helena @ Great Falls
| Final – 2OT | Great Falls Iceplex Sat, Nov 09, 2013 7:30 PM MST |
 Helena 1 |
 Great Falls 2 |
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