By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., January 31, 2015 — As the Great Falls Americans (28-8-2) entered their sixth meeting of the 2014-15 NA3HL season against the Glacier Nationals (9-25-5) on Saturday night, it remained clear that the Americans have had much success against the team from up north.
Great Falls, who have already clinched a playoff appearance, has out-scored the Havre, Montana based squad 25-12 this season after five games. The last place Nationals have lost four out of five games against the Great Falls club.
Tonight, would be different though.
The Glacier Nationals scored two goals in the final period to defeat the host Great Falls Americans 2-1 at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night as 825 spectators watched in anticipation as all of the goals came in the third period.
Neither team was able to gather any points during the first two periods of action. The Americans had many chances to score but came up empty. Great Falls was able to out-shoot the visiting team 50-10.
Glacier netted the first score of the game with 6:58 remaining in regulation with Joshua Larson’s feed to Matt Gamblin. After picking up the assist in the first scoring opportunity, Joshua Larson tallied a goal of his own a minute and a half later. The power play goal was assisted by Tommy Kaddatz. The comeback by the Americans fell short as Robert Kalata registered the only score with 28 seconds to play with Dylan Garton and Cody Page picking up the assists.
Each team turned one of their power plays into a scoring opportunity with Great Falls going 1-for-4 and Glacier finishing 1-for-2 on the final day of January.
Great Falls had two minor penalties and one major penalty for 14 total minutes of penalty time while Glacier finished with five infractions for 18 minutes.
Ryan Lund had a near perfect game in the net as he stopped 64 of the 65 shots allowing one goal in the last 28 seconds of the contest for the Nationals. Jordan Moran got his first start in a Great Falls uniform and earned 14 saves.
NEXT CONTEST: After a trip to Havre, Montana on Friday, February 6th to play the Glacier Nationals (8:00PM start time), the Americans will play host to Billings (7:30PM start) on Saturday, February 7th and Helena in an afternoon game beginning at 4:00PM on Sunday, February 8th.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Final | |
| Great Falls | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Glacier | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
First Period – NO SCORING
Second Period – NO SCORING
Third Period – 1, Glacier, Matt Gamblin (Joshua Larson), 13:02. 2, Glacier, Joshua Larson (power play) (Tommy Kaddatz), 14:39. 3, Great Falls, Robert Kalata (power play) (Dylan Garton, Cody Page), 19:32.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 65, Glacier 16.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 1-for-4, Glacier 1-for-2.
Attendance – 825