Nationals wrap up the first half this weekend

The Glacier Nationals junior hockey team has been going through a rough stretch as of late. And as the first half of the Frontier Division season draws to a close, the Nationals are hoping to build some positive momentum.

That will be easier said than done though, as the Nationals finish the first half of division play with a pair of big rivalry games this weekend.

Tonight, Glacier (2-18-2) is in Great Falls to take on the first-place Great Falls Americans. On Saturday night, the Nationals return home to take on the Helena Bighorns.

Tonight’s game is the fifth meeting between the Nationals and Americans this season, and so far, the rivalry has been lopsided. Great Falls, which sports a 17-6-0 record, has outscored the Nationals 34-5 in those four previous meetings.

Of course, the Americans have been outscoring everybody in the Pioneers this season, as they average a healthy five goals per game and scoring on 23 percent of their power plays. Conversely, the Nationals come into the weekend averaging less than two goals per game, but they are killing 75 percent of their penalties.

Tonight’s matchup will also feature two of the top scorers in the Frontier Division, as Great Falls forward, and former National Brendan Jester has 28 points on the season. Meanwhile, Glacier’s Tyler McMahon has 24 points, but is second in the Frontier with 15 goals. However, the Nationals will need more than McMahon’s offense tonight, as they go up against Great Falls’ goalie Jake Stephan, who is 8-2 on the season and is stopping 93 percent of the shots on goal against him.

Once the Nationals return home from their game against Great Falls, they’ll go into the Frontier break with a game against Helena (13-3-4). The Bighorns are currently in third place in the Frontier, but have only suffered three regulation losses this year.

Helena is another top-notch offensive team, as Ryan Daughtery and Blake Babineau have both scored over 20 points this season. The Bighorns are also 2-0 against the Nationals this season, including an 8-1 two weeks ago in Havre, so the Nationals will once again have their work cut out for them.

But, with a trip to Minnesota for NA3HL Showcase upcoming, and the Holiday break, the Nationals could use this weekend’s games as a perfect springboard to the second half of the season, as well as a chance to get back into the playoff race. Glacier is in last place in the Frontier right now, but the Nationals are just one game behind Billings and another six behind Gillette, so there’s still plenty of time for the Nationals to turn things around.

Tonight’s game between Great Falls and Glacier starts 7:30 at the Great Falls IcePlex. Saturday night’s game between the Nationals and the Bighorns will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Havre Ice Dome.