By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 15, 2013 — The Great Falls Americans fresh off their upset victory against Helena last week were able to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the second period to edge the visiting Yellowstone Quake 4-3 thanks to Aaron McInnis’ game-winning goal with 21.8 seconds remaining in the first overtime on Friday evening at home. This was game one of a two game series for both teams this weekend and the third meeting overall this season.
In addition to overtime victory, many of the 625 fans in attendance took advantage of the free tickets for the AWHL game by stopping at tonight’s sponsor, Keith’s Country Store.
Each team’s goaltenders (Evan Hauser for Great Falls and Yellowstone’s Sean Leahy) prevented their opponents from finding the back of the net in the first twenty minutes of action. Hauser and Leahy each stopped 15 shots on goal in the opening period.
It took 24 minutes of actual game time before any points were scored by either team. Yellowstone’s Josh Neumann answered first for the Quake 4:28 into the second period off the stick of Trent Carter, who picked up the first of his two assists in the period. Carter picked up his second assist for the Cody, Wyoming club as Sawyer Scanlan got the puck into the goal to increase Yellowstone’s lead (2-0). Great Falls was held scoreless for the first 33 minutes before the Americans cut the deficit to 2-1 with a Cody Page goal with 6:47 remaining in the middle period. Zachary Mese and Great Falls native Brady Christiaens supplied the assists for Great Falls.
Steven Goran and Zachary Mese would each score on power play opportunities for coach Jeff Heimel’s squad in the third period with Aaron McInnis and Lucas Lomax each recording two assists apiece to give the Americans their first lead of the evening (3-2). Brady Christiaens had a goal called back by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the game. Yellowstone’s Mike McCullen goal with 4:59 left in regulation helped send the game into overtime. Ross Mullen added his second assist for the Quake on the play.
Yellowstone provided more shots on goal in the overtime period (11-7) but Great Falls escaped with the victory thanks to Aaron McInnis’ goal setup by Lucas Stover and Austin Nottke with 21.8 seconds in the deciding period of play.
Hauser and Leahy each recorded 45 saves for their respective teams in 64 minutes of play. Both teams combined for 26 minutes of penalty time on thirteen infractions.
The victory for the Americans gives them a 13-3 overall record and Yellowstone goes to 4-10-2
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will play the second game of their two game series against Yellowstone on Saturday, November 16th starting at 7:30PM at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | 1st OT | Final | |
| Great Falls | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Yellowstone | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
First Period – NO SCORING
Second Period – 1, Yellowstone, Josh Neumann (assisted by Trent Carter and Ross Mullen), 4:28. 2, Yellowstone, Sawyer Scanlan (Trent Carter, Tray Kraut), 9:14. 3, Great Falls, Cody Page (Zachary Mese, Brady Christiaens), 13:13.
Third Period – 4, Great Falls, Steven Goran (power play) (Aaron McInnis, Lucas Lomax), 2:23. 5, Great Falls, Zachary Mese (power play) (Lucas Lomax, Aaron McInnis), 12:06. 6, Yellowstone, Mike McCullen (Sawyer Scanlan, Ross Mullen), 15:01.
First Overtime – 7, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (Lucas Stover, Austin Nottke), 4:38.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 49, Yellowstone 48.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 2-for-5, Yellowstone 0-for-8.
Attendance – 625
Box Score: Yellowstone @ Great Falls
| Final – OT | Great Falls Iceplex Fri, Nov 15, 2013 7:30 PM MST |
 Yellowstone 3 |
 Great Falls 4 |
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