By Kevin Scott
HELENA, Mont., November 1, 2013 — The Great Falls Americans fell 3-2 in the final twenty seconds to the Helena Bighorns at the Helena Ice Arena on Friday night. After winning their first ten games, Helena knocked off the AWHL leaders for the second consecutive time this week.
Despite both teams combining for 22 shots on goal in the first period, the game remained scoreless as the top two teams battled it out again this week.
Austin Krantz’ scored his third goal of the season five minutes into the second period to give the Americans the early lead. The power play goal was assisted by Lucas Stover and Connor Barta. Logan Henne’s power play goal with 1:20 left until the second intermission off the pass by Austin Buckholtz and Theo Campe tied the contest at 1-1. Helena out-shot Great Falls 22 to 8 during this time.
After Henne’s goal, the Bighorns wasted no time in finding the back of the net as Ryan Webber’s unassisted goal one minute into the third period gave Helena their first lead of the evening (2-1). Zachary Mese chipped in a game-tying goal for Great Falls with just over five minutes remaining. The game looked like it might go into an extra period but Helena’s Dylan Webster added the Bighorn’s third goal with 20 seconds to go.
Great Falls was doomed by their 28 minutes of penalties and the inability to stop Helena from sending the pucks toward the net. Erik Powell made 59 saves for the Americans while Austin Brihn recorded 26.
Four different players (Lucas Stover, Connor Barta, Donovan Mattfeldt, and Johnathan Carpenter) picked up assists off the goals by Krantz and Mese for coach Jeff Heimel’s squad.
The Great Falls Americans are now in second place in the league with a 10-2 record. Helena improves to 10-1 on the season and takes over first place.
NEXT CONTEST: The Great Falls Americans will return home on Saturday, November 2, 2013 to face the Billings Bulls. In their first meeting of the season on October 12th, Great Falls defeated Billings 8-1.
|
Period 1 |
Period 2 |
Period 3 |
Final |
| Great Falls |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Helena |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
First Period – NO SCORING
Second Period – 1, Great Falls, Austin Krantz (power play) (assisted by Lucas Stover, Connor Barta), 5:38. 2, Helena, Logan Henne (power play) (Austin Buckholtz, Theo Campe), 18:40.
Third Period – 3, Helena, Ryan Webber (shorthanded, unassisted), 1:02. 4, Great Falls, Zachary Mese (power play) (Donovan Mattfeldt, Johnathan Carpenter), 14:52. 5, Helena, Dylan Webster (power play) (Brian Skillicorn, Nick Okada), 19:40.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 28, Helena 62.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 2-for 7, Helena 2-for-10.
Attendance – 476
Box Score: Great Falls @ Helena
| Great Falls |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Helena |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
| Great Falls |
12 |
8 |
8 |
28 |
| Helena |
10 |
22 |
30 |
62 |
|
|
|
| Great Falls 2 – 7 : Helena 2 – 10 |
|
|
Helena – Ryan Webber – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 1:52
Helena – Danny Case – (Interference), 2 MIN, 6:06
Great Falls – Cody Page – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 13:20 |
Great Falls – Jonnathan Carpenter – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 0:38
Helena – Brandt Miller – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 4:50
Great Falls – Zack Mese – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 6:32
Great Falls – Zack Mese – (Too Many Men), 2 MIN, 9:38
Helena – Ryan Webber – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 11:24
Great Falls – Steven Goran – (Slashing), 2 MIN, 13:56
Great Falls – Austin Krantz – (Checking from Behind), 2 MIN, 18:33
Helena – Austin Buckholtz – (Charging), 2 MIN, 19:31
Helena – Danny Case – (Head Contact), 2 MIN, 20:00
Great Falls – Connor Barta – (Roughing), 2 MIN, 20:00 |
Great Falls – Cody Page – (Slashing), 2 MIN, 1:02
Great Falls – Donovan Mattfeldt – (Interference), 2 MIN, 4:35
Helena – Damon Hanson – (Delay of Game), 2 MIN, 5:22
Great Falls – Dylan Garton – (Delay of Game), 2 MIN, 5:22
Helena – Danny Case – (Holding), 2 MIN, 12:30
Great Falls – Cody Page – (Slashing), 2 MIN, 12:30
Helena – Sebastian Hansson – (Head Contact), 2 MIN, 13:41
Helena – Sebastian Hansson – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 MIN, 13:41
Great Falls – Malachi Bushey – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Bench Minor), 2 MIN, 13:41
Helena – Logan Henne – (Interference), 2 MIN, 15:28
Great Falls – Cody Page – (Tripping), 2 MIN, 16:34
Great Falls – Steven Goran – (Slashing), 2 MIN, 19:21 |
|
| # |
NAME |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
S |
PIM |
| 1 |
Powell, Erik |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 3 |
Strong, Bridger |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4 |
Sartuche, Paul |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 5 |
Krantz, Austin |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
2 |
| 6 |
Garton, Dylan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 7 |
Page, Cody |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
8 |
| 9 |
Goran, Steven |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
4 |
| 13 |
Mattfeldt, Donovan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 14 |
Carpenter, Jonnathan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 16 |
Mese, Zack |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
4 |
| 23 |
Stover, Lucas |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 24 |
Simmons, Marvin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 26 |
Bushey, Malachi |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 29 |
Barta, Connor |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 30 |
Hauser, Evan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 93 |
McInnis, Aaron |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| # |
NAME |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
S |
PIM |
| 4 |
Campe, Theo |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 6 |
Okada, Nick |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 7 |
Wolter, Jacob |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 8 |
Bonta, John |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 9 |
Hanson, Damon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 10 |
Webster, Dylan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 16 |
Olson, Parker |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 17 |
Henne, Logan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 18 |
Loes, Austin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 20 |
Case, Danny |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| 21 |
Miller, Brandt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 22 |
Webber, Ryan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
4 |
| 24 |
Hansson, Sebastian |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| 27 |
Dunn, Connor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 28 |
Skillicorn, Brian |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 29 |
Buckholtz, Austin |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 31 |
Lazarski, Alek |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 33 |
Brihn, Austin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 39 |
Mohar, Matt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 44 |
Bock, Rory |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Great Falls 28 minutes on 14 infractions Helena 22 minutes on 11 infractions |
|
|
Head Coach: Cunningham, Scott
Assistant Coach: Reis, Josh
Assistant Coach: Norlin, Pat
Assistant Coach: Vanacker, Brandon
Trainer: Pippen, Robert |
|
Game Length: 2:25
Attendance: 476 |
|
Great Falls 2
Helena 3