Special to the Tribune
January 1, 2015
BILLINGS — Alex Lundstrom scored a natural hat trick in the second period, helping boost the Billings Bulls past the Great Falls Americans 6-1 in a NA3HL Frontier Division contest at the Centennial Ice Arena.
Lundstrom’s power play goal early in the second snapped a 1-1 tie, then he added a goal at about the 13-minute mark and his third with about 2 1 ⁄ 2minutes remaining in the middle stanza. Steven Thompson, Reed Kaiser and Nick Rizzo added tallies for the Bulls, while Dylan Garton scored the lone goal for Great Falls in the first period.
The Frontier Division standings didn’t change to end 2014. The Americans, with 48 points (24-4-0), hold a five-point advantage over second-place Gillette (21-9-1), who rolled past Yellowstone Wednesday night 5-1. Billings remains in fourth with 32 points (14-11-4), while Yellowstone stays in fifth with 19 points (8-19-3).
The Americans will host the Helena Bighorns to open the New Year Friday night at 7:30 at the Ice Plex.
Great Falls 1 0 0 — 1
Billings 1 4 1 — 6
First Period — 1. Billings – Steven Thompson (unassisted) 3:36. 2. Great Falls – Dylan Garton (Arseny Ivanov, Lucas Lomax) 7:02
Second Period — 3. Billings – Alex Lundstrom (power play) (Ian Wiljanen) 4:36. 4. Billings – Alex Lundstrom (Ian Wiljanen) 12:20. 5. Billings – Alex Lundstrom (Ian Wiljanen, Bryce Jensen) 17:23. 6. Billings – Reed Kaiser (Steven Thompson, Tristan Henrichs) 18:47.
Third Period — 7. Billings – Nick Rizzo (Tristan Henrichs, Steven Thompson) 13:15.
Power play opportunities — Great Falls 0-for-9. Billings 1-for-5.
Goalies/shots/saves — Great Falls, Lauren Massie (39-33). Billings — Cole Semchak (42-41)
Story Courtesy: Great Falls Tribune (January 1, 2015)