Nationals return to the ice with road games

After taking some time off for the holidays, the Glacier Nationals are getting back on the ice and hopefully in the win column this weekend against the Bozeman Ice Dogs.

The Nationals, who play in the Frontier Division of the North American Tier 3 Hockey League, is 4-20-4 in 28 games, which leaves them tied for last place in the Frontier with the Ice Dogs. Glacier and Bozeman both have 12 points coming into their meeting tonight in Bozeman. The game is the first of back-to-back games between the two teams. The second game will be played Saturday and both will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Nationals come into tonight's game on a three-game losing skid with one of the loss coming at the hands of Bozeman back on Dec. 14 in Havre. After that loss, Glacier lost back-to-back games to Gillette before its two week break.

The biggest problem for the Nationals during their losing streak has been the inability to score the puck. Glacier was shut out in both games against Gillette and have scored only two goals in their last three games.

Two players that the Nationals have been able to rely on for consistent offensive production this season are Joshua Larson and Karson Frisk. Larson has a team-high nine goals for the Nationals to go with five assists. Frisk has seven goals and five assists to his credit. Each player will be essential is getting the Nationals offense back on track. Tyler McMahon has also been a bright spot for Glacier with five goals and ten assists.

Bozeman, which is 6-23 on the season, has played just one more game than Glacier but has scored 67 goals compared to just 47 for the Nationals. The Ice Dogs top offensive player is Gunnar Mogck, who leads the team with 16 goals. He also has 19 assists.

Yet, Bozeman has a number other potent offensive weapons such as Keagan Courture, who has scored 10 goals in addition to an impressive 25 assists as well as Kyler Chartier, who has 12 goals and 13 assists.

If the Nationals can improve their production on the offensive end of the ice, they should have a puncher's chance to ending their losing streak due to the strong play of goaltender Ryan Lund. In large part because of the lack of goal scoring, Lund is just 3-13-3 on the season but has a goals against average of 3.91 and a save percentage of 91.

Nolan Slager may also see time between the pipes for Glacier. On the season, he has a record of 1-7-1 as well as a goals against average of 5.42 and a save percentage of 87.

On the opposite side, Bozeman will trust it goaltending duties to Denjis Romanovskis, who has been in net for five of the teams six victories, as well as Steven Frank and Sal Lauretta.

Glacier and Bozeman will kick off their two-game set tonight in Bozeman at 7:30. The first puck will drop Saturday in the second game between the two team at 7:30 p.m. as well.