By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., January 26, 2018 — The Great Falls Americans (23-9-2) have had Bozeman’s (Ice Dogs) number all season long. They have dialed up four wins in four meetings leading up to tonight’s contest.
Adam Vandenbos contributed two goals and Matt Janke assisted on two scoring drives to lead the Great Falls Americans to a 4-2 victory on home ice against the Bozeman Ice Dogs in front of 923 spectators on Friday night. Great Falls is now 5-0 against the Ice Dogs.
Each team committed two minor penalties but neither team could put the puck into the net during the first period. Great Falls put up 12 shots against the defensive attack put on by the Ice Dogs. Great Falls goaltender Drew Scites swatted away all seven shot attempts by the visiting team.
Adam Vandenbos skated towards Bozeman netminder Carver Thompson and lit up the lamp for the Americans 1:52 into the middle period. Matt Janke assisted on one of his two scoring plays he set up. Kyler Mack also recorded an assist to give the Americans the early 1-0 advantage. Six minutes later, Kyler Mack sailed the puck through the net as Logan Rachow and Luke Richesin garnered the assists. Great Falls’ two goal lead was cut in half when Bozeman’s Austin Charnholm slapshot went by Drew Scites. Beckett Patten and Cade Hanley added the assists on a power play score before the period expired.
The home fans didn’t have to wait long after the second intermission for the Americans to score. Weston Goodman’s pass from Kody Thomas 57 seconds into the final stanza put the home team back on top by two goals (3-1). The Ice Dogs didn’t give up and Gage Blatter netted his fourth goal of the season with Cade Hanley and Duncan McGarrah collected one assist apiece. The host team maintained a 3-2 lead until the final 2:40 when Adam Vandenbos tacked on his second goal of the night to guarantee the Americans 23rd victory. Matt Janke and Great Falls product Braxton Lorenz dished out the assists.
Great Falls scored four goals by taking 47 total shots. The defensive press put on by the Americans denied many shot opportunities by Bozeman as the visiting team only attempted 17 shots in 60 minutes.
The Americans had three power play chances but couldn’t find the back of the net while Bozeman was down a man. Bozeman capitalized on one of their four power play opportunities. Both teams accounted for 24 minutes in the penalty box.
Drew Scites had an easy night in the net for the Americans. He redirected 15 of the 17 shots he encountered. Bozeman’s Carver Thompson, who had the difficult task of swatting away shots by the Americans offense, finished with 43 saves.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls will finish out their home-and-home series with Bozeman on Saturday, January 27th with game time set for 7:30PM from the Great Falls Ice Plex.