By Tribune Sports Staff
February 16, 2019
Payton McSharry scored two goals and assisted on another Friday night while Drew Scites turned away 18 shots to lead the Great Falls Americans to a 5-0 blanking over the Yellowstone Stone in front of 865 fans at the IcePlex.
Coupled with Helena’s 4-3 loss at home to Bozeman, the playoff-bound Americans now enjoy a five-point advantage over the Bighorns with just four games remaining on the regular season calendar, including one against the Horns March 1 in the Capital City.
After a scoreless first stanza, Hendrik Robel’s second goal of the season gave the Americans (35-7-0-1, 71 pts.) all the scoring they would need just ¾ of a minute into the second period, with help from George Nuutinen and Brandon Peterson.
Before the period was half over, Great Falls would score twice more. Peterson got the honors at the 3:26 mark, then McSharry got the first of his pair with 10:44 left before intermission.
McSharry and Trent Cowden rounded out the scoring midway through the third, both on power plays. The Americans were successful twice in the six times they had a man advantage, while the Quake (3-35-2-0, 8 pts.) was shutout on all seven of their power plays.
The Americans outshot Yellowstone 79-18.
The same two teams meet for the final time this season Saturday at 7:30 at the IcePlex.
Story Courtesy: Great Falls Tribune: Americans blank Quake; increase lead over Helena to five points (February 16, 2019)