By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., January 11, 2015 — The Great Falls Americans (27-5) have allowed just nine points and one loss in their previous three meetings this season against the Havre, Montana based Glacier Nationals (6-22-5). Great Falls has registered 16 goals against their rivals.
Great Falls grabbed a 7-5 victory on December 5th at the Havre Ice Dome where they accumulated three goals in both the second and third periods in their last head-to-head matchup.
The Americans scored a goal in the first two periods to pull away from the Nationals 2-1 on Pam Nommensen Insurance and Pepsi Family Day at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Sunday afternoon.
In a blink of an eye, the Great Falls Americans got on the scoreboard quickly. Malachi Bushey added his fourth goal of the season 33 seconds into the first period. Bushey’s goal turned out to be the only score before the first intermission. The Americans led the offensive attack with an 18-5 shots-on-goal advantage during the period.
The home team took a two goal lead on a Zack Mese score with 13:25 remaining in the middle period. Dylan Garton and Malachi Bushey each assisted on the second goal for the Americans.
The Nationals netted their first (and only) goal of the afternoon with 5:28 remaining in the last stanza. Wyatt Fretheim scored off a feed from Dustin Foran and Tyler McMahon to cut Glacier’s deficit to 2-1 but could not get another goal past Americans goaltender Lauren Massie.
After a penalty-free first period, the Americans and Nationals combined for five infractions for 18 minutes of penalty time.
Each team failed to capitalize on their one power play opportunity.
Lauren Massie, the Great Falls goaltender, only allowed one goal while stopping 16 of the 17 shots he encountered. Ryan Lund recorded 54 saves for the Glacier club despite the loss.
NEXT CONTEST: The Great Falls Americans will be in Havre, Montana on Friday, January 16th to take on the Glacier Nationals. Game time is set for 8:00PM (MST) at the Havre Ice Dome.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Final | |
| Great Falls | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Glacier | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
First Period – 1, Great Falls, Malachi Bushey (unassisted), 0:33.
Second Period – 2, Great Falls, Zack Mese (Malachi Bushey, Dylan Garton), 6:35.
Third Period – 3, Glacier, Wyatt Fretheim (Dustin Foran, Tyler McMahon), 14:32.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 56, Glacier 17.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-1, Glacier 0-for-1.
Attendance – 499
Box Score: Glacier @ Great Falls
Additional Media Coverage: January 12, 2015: Great Falls Tribune: Great Falls Americans fend off last place Nationals