By Kevin Scott
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CODY, Wyo., February 2, 2018 — The rivalry continues between the Great Falls Americans (24-10-2) and the Yellowstone Quake (Cody, WY). These two NA3HL teams have made the playoffs on a routine basis the past couple of seasons.
The Great Falls Americans have struggled offensively when they have played their previous four matchups this season against the Wyoming club. Great Falls has only had one victory with a 4-3 victory that needed an overtime to decide the winner back on October 14th.
The Yellowstone Quake defeated the Great Falls Americans for the fourth time in five games by the score of 3-1 at Riley Arena in Cody, Wyoming on Friday evening. Cole Stewart, Riley Butler, and Jack Moore each contributed points in the three scoring drives for Yellowstone.
The first period saw 18 combined shot attempts and two penalties for Great Falls along with one goal scored by the Quake during a power play. Five minutes into the initial period, Yellowstone lit up the lamp while Great Falls was in the penalty. The Stewarts (Cole and Mason) gathered their 46th and 58th assists, respectively when their pass to Jack Moore got by the Americans netminder to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Both teams ended the remainder of the stanza with no scoring after Yellowstone’s only goal.
Kyler Mack added his 10th goal as Tanner Rath and Jens Juliussen recorded the assists to tie the game at 1-1. The Americans first goal came 2:47 into the middle period. The Americans closed out the period by taking 14 shots (Yellowstone had 12).
The top-ranked Quake took control of the final period by scoring two goals. The tie was broken by Yellowstone’s Cole Stewart, who put the puck in the net over Great Falls goalie Bryan Sharp, 16 seconds into the last period. Jacob Schuldt and Riley Butler came away with the assists. Yellowstone struck again for the final time as Riley Butler scored for the 33rd time this season with the score set up by Jack Moore and Nolan Willoughby. Great Falls battled hard but could not successfully gather another score the rest of the way.
Cole Stewart, Riley Butler, and Jack Moore each scored once and dished out one assist in the win for Yellowstone. Great Falls’ Kyler Mack made the only goal for Great Falls in the loss despite four unsuccessful power play chances.
The Quake finished with 39 shot attempts including 17 in the final twenty minutes. Great Falls took 33 shots in sixty minutes.
First period penalties by goaltender Drew Scites of Great Falls drew a 25-minute game misconduct for butt ending was a critical point of the game as the visiting team finished with four infractions for 29 minutes. Yellowstone saw six minor penalties coming in the second and third periods resulting in 12 minutes of penalty time.
Reid Waszczenko allowed one second period Great Falls score but otherwise, had a perfect game as the Yellowstone goalie finished with 32 saves. Before Drew Scites game-ending misconduct in the opening period, he stopped six shots. Bryan Sharp, who came in to replace him the rest of the way, redirected 30 of the 33 shots he faced by Yellowstone’s offense.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls stays in Cody, Wyoming for their final road game in Wyoming set for Saturday, February 3rd with the puck dripping at 7:30PM from Riley Arena.