Glacier plays two in Billings

If the Glacier Nationals are going to get their first points of the 2016-17 season, this weekend might be the best opportunity yet.

Glacier, which stands at 0-4-0 through two weeks of the Frontier Division season, visits another squad with no points on its resume thus far, when the Nationals meet the Billings Bulls for two games in Billings. The first game comes tonight at 7:30, followed by a rematch Saturday night at 7:30.

Glacier comes into this weekend’s road trip yet to score a point, but the Nationals did make some headway last weekend when they played a much more competitive two games against the Gillette Wild.

Offensively, the Nationals are led by Gavin Cline, who has two goals and two points this season. Lindros Beard also has a goal and assist for the Nationals.

But where Glacier has really struggled thus far is stopping the puck. Glacier goalies have been battered by opposing shots in four games this season, and the Glacier defense must do better to help protect starting goalie Travis Green and backup Jonah Gower. All told, the Glacier defense has allowed an average of nine goals per game thus far.

Billings meanwhile, has struggled in similar ways. Billings is 0-3 on the young season, but the team is a perennial playoff contender, so Billings will be fired up to get on the right track with Glacier in town this weekend.

Both games between the Bulls and Nationals start at 7:30 p.m. this weekend in Billings. The two teams will turn right around and play a doubleheader next weekend at the Havre Ice Dome.