Special to the Tribune
December 10, 2014
BLAINE, Minn. — The Great Falls Americans improved to 21-2 on the season Tuesday with their third victory in as many days at the NA3HL Showcase tournament here.
The Americans of coach Jeff Heimel blanked Point Mallard (Ala.) 2-1 on Tuesday. Earlier in the tournament the Great Falls club defeated the Minnesota Flying Aces (3-1) and the St. Louis Jr. Blues (4-3 in a shootout).
The Point Mallard Ducks, who play their home games in Decatur, Alabama, have a 13-8 record so far this season including going 1-2 at the Showcase tournament that concluded Tuesday.
The Americans have now won six straight. The Great Falls club returns to home ice Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 to meet the Gillette Wild at the IcePlex.
On Tuesday, the Americans’ Lucas Stover netted the only goal in the first two periods for either team. His goal 16 minutes into the first period was assisted by Brendan Jester and Great Falls native Connor Barta, who chipped in his fifth assist of the season.
Point Mallard’s Jake Cox scored the game-tying goal with 1:45 left in the third period. Grant Dukus and Noah Gilbreath picked up the assists. The contest looked like it might go into another period but Great Falls found another way to score. Great Falls scored again in the third period, with Lucas Lomax lighting the lamp off assists from Reed Link and Zack Mese.
Evan Hauser turned in another stellar performance in the net for Great Falls, blocking all 24 shots he faced against the Alabama team.
Great Falls 2, Point Mallard (Ala.) 1
Great Falls …1 0 1—2
Point Mallard …0 0 1—1
First Period – 1, Great Falls, Lucas Stover (Connor Barta, Brendan Jester), 15:55.
Second Period – NO SCORING
Third Period – 2, Point Mallard, Jake Cox (Grant Dukus, Noah Gilbreath), 18:15. 3, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (empty net) (Reed Link, Zack Mese), 19:59.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 25, Point Mallard 25.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-5, Point Mallard 0-for-2.
Attendance – 44
Monday
Great Falls 4, St. Louis 3 (so)
Great Falls …1 1 1 0 1—4
St. Louis …2 1 0 0 0—3
First Period – 1, Great Falls, Robert Kalata (Lucas Stover, Adam Apangalook), 1:08. 2, St. Louis, Alex Klaesner (Brian Schumacher, Adam Havener), 9:15. 3, St. Louis, Alex Klaesner (Brian Schumacher, Adam Havener), 15:49.
Second Period – 4, Great Falls, Dylan Garton (Zack Mese, Hunter Garris), 11:25. 5, St. Louis, Brian Schumacher (Alex Klaesner), 13:05.
Third Period – 6, Great Falls, Austin Krantz (Jonathan Carpenter), 5:17.
Overtime – NO SCORING
Shootout – St. Louis, Sam Yauch (Goal), Great Falls, Hunter Garris (Goal), St. Louis, Tommy Heinzman (No Goal), Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (No Goal), St. Louis, Alex Klaesner (No Goal), Great Falls, Cody Page (Goal), St. Louis, Sam Maddox (Goal), Great Falls, Wade Wylie (No Goal), St. Louis, Adam Havener (No Goal), Great Falls, Marvin Simmons (No Goal), St. Louis, Daniel Dunaaway (No Goal), Great Falls, Michael Kliment (No Goal), St. Louis, Andrew Wingbermuehle (No Goal).
(Great Falls wins shootout 3-2)
7, Great Falls, Reed Link (Goal).
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 47, St. Louis 33.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-5, St. Louis 0-for-2.
Attendance – 80