Glacier skates with Great Falls tonight

The Glacier Nationals had two more games on the slate this week, and two chances to end their lengthy losing skid. But after a loss Thursday night to the Great Falls Americans, their chances of getting points in the standings comes down to tonight.

The Nationals, who took part in Frontier Division action Thursday night in Great Falls against the Americans, were defeated soundly, 14-0, making it 14-straight games without earning a win. Yet, Glacier will get a chance for revenge tonight as the two teams from the North American Tier 3 Hockey League will do battle again, this time inside the Havre Ice Dome. The first puck is set to drop tonight at 8.

In Thursday’s contest in Great Falls, the Americans took it right to the Nationals, scoring seven goals in the opening stanza, with seven different skaters for Great Falls finding the net. The Americans added four more goals in the second and tacked on another three in the third period to wrap up dominating 14-goal victory. The Americans had a total of 12 players scored goals, with Tegan Harrington and Dustin Truex both scoring twice. Great Falls outshot Glacier in the game 52-7 en route the win.

While the Nationals failed to find the back of the net against the Americans, in truth, it’s been an issue for the team all season. Glacier came into the weekend scoring less than two goals per game. The leading scorer on the active roster right now is Gavin Cline, who leads the team with six goals and is second in assists with seven. Zach Houck is the other key offensive player for Glacier with 10 points. He scored on goal and has a team-high 10 assists.

After getting the loss against the Americans, Jonah Gower, who allowed five goals in the first period Thursday night, will be one of two active goalies available again tonight. The other is Will Langstaff, who has a 1-5 record this season with a goals against average of 7.63.

Entering the week, Glacier had two plays who have reached double figures in points. Great Falls, on ther hand had two players with 31 points or more and six that have managed at least 20.

Tanner Congdon is the team’s leading scorer, with 16 goals leading up to Thursday night’s contest. But five others, Danny O’Donnell, Brendan Jester, Matt Janke, Tegan Harrington and Sandis Mezharaups, joined Congdon as double-digit goal scorers. The Americans also have a big advantage in net, where they boast Nick Nast, who beat the Nationals Thursday night. For the season, he has a 6-2-1 record with a 2.32 goals against average.

After the win Thursday, the Americans are now just three games out of first place with 32 total points. They trail the Yellowstone Quake by three. Gillette is third with 27, Bozeman fourth with 26 and Missoula fifth with 25. Helena is currently sixth with 15, Billings is seventh with nine and Glacier is last with three.

The Nationals and Americans will hit the ice tonight at 8 inside the Havre Ice Dome.