Rough weekend for the Nationals

After three straight victories, the Glacier Nationals came back to earth this weekend as they were shutout on consecutive nights by the Great Falls Americans and Helena Bighorns.

The Nationals opened their weekend on Friday when they hosted the Americans, a team they had just defeated less a week before, and in a game that was never really close, they were defeated 7-0.

Wade Wiley and Blake Miller each scored to put the Americans up 2-0 at the end of the first period. Great Falls added three more goals in the second and two more in the third to notch the seven-goal victory.

The Americans didn't just dominate on the scoreboard, they controlled all aspects of the game. Great Falls out shot the Nationals 36-12 and put together an impressive defensive performance. Jordan Moran got the win in net for Great Falls with 12 saves, while Ryan Lund, who saved 29 of 36 shots got the loss.

On Saturday night, the Nationals were looking to rebound against the Big Horns but walked into a buzz saw and were shutout a for second straight night 6-0.

Jay Forbes opened the scoring for Helena by beating Nationals' goalie Nolan Slager just over five minutes into the game. Then, Brian Skillicorn scored near the end of the first to put Helena up 2-0.

The Nationals hung around and gave up just one goal in the third to stay within striking distance down 3-0 after the second stanza. Yet, the flood gates opened in the third. Nick Trefry scored four minutes into the third to make the lead 4-0. Helena added on two more goals to push the final margin to 6-0.

Grant Martens got the win for the Big Horns with 20 saves the shutout. Slager got the loss but did manage 31 saves is a respectable showing.

The losses dropped the Nationals record to 9-27-5 on the season. They are currently sixth out of seventh teams in the Frontier division and will return to the ice this Friday inside the Havre Ice Dome against the Bozeman Ice Dogs.