By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., January 17, 2016 — On Saturday evening, the Great Falls Americans edged the visiting Gillette Wild, 2-1 thanks to goals by Austin Krantz and the game-winning score by Tanner Congdon that improved their home record to 13-3-1.
Great Falls was looking for their fifth straight win coming into Sunday’s matinee contest with the Wyoming team.
Forward Ricards Bernhards added two first period goals and chipped in two assists to help the Great Falls Americans (25-7-2) to a 4-0 shutout victory over the visiting Gillette Wild (16-16) on Sunday afternoon at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Before the end of the period, Bernhards scored twice including one unassisted and the other goal coming from Tyler Garcia with 3:29 left in the first stanza. Each team came away with one minor penalty and nine shots-on-goal.
Tanner Congdon scored the lone goal for either team on a power play opportunity against Gillette goalie Stephen Wroe with twelve minutes left in the second period. Bernhards and Wade Wylie each earned the assists. The host team finished with 16 shots and the Wild tallying 11 in the middle period.
Wade Wylie came out of the second intermission determined to get his team more points. He scored within the first two minutes for Great Falls’ second power play scoring opportunity. Bernhards and Congdon dished out the assists.
The Americans went 2-for-4 on power plays and did not give up a goal while down a player. The offensive attack led to 33 shots with 16 coming in the middle period.
The Frontier Division’s top team had six minors resulting in 12 minutes in penalty time. Gillette committed five infractions incurring 10 minutes in the penalty box.
Lauren Massie stopped all of the shots he faced and finished with 31 saves. Despite the loss, Gillette net minder Stephen Wroe rejected 29 of the 33 shot attempts.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will challenge the Yellowstone Quake on Friday and Saturday, January 22-23rd at the Victor J. Riley Arena in Cody, Wyoming. Game time each night is set for 7:30PM.