Bruins sweep Nationals

The Glacier Nationals were unable to end their winless streak this past weekend in two home games against the Missoula Jr. Bruins. But unlike their previous two losses, the Nationals at least found the net, twice in fact in each loss.

The two teams, which played Friday and Saturday night inside the Havre Ice Dome, scored 12 goals combined Friday, as Missoula beat Glacier 10-2. Saturday's game was much more competitive, but the Nationals still wound up on the short end, with the Jr. Bruins taking the game 6-2.

Friday night, Missoula quickly took control of the game, as the Jr. Bruins scored three goals within the first 6:03 of game action. Gavin Cline found the net for Glacier, trimming the deficit to 3-1, but another Missoula goal made it 4-1 after one period.

In the second period, it took Missoula more than seven minutes to get on the scoreboard again, but once it did, it found it repeatedly, scoring five goals in less than eight minutes to build a 9-1 advantage. William Wallace found the net for the Nationals, which made in 9-2 in favor of Missoula heading to the third period. The Jr. Bruins would add another goal in the final stanza, salting away an eight-goal victory.

Eight different Missoula players score goals in the win. Christian Ward and Colby Birch each found the net twice. Joe Chekan got the win for Missoula, stopping 15 of the 17 shot attempts he faced. Will Langstaff got the loss for Glacier, stopping 35 shots, but allowing five goals.

When the two teams reconvened Saturday for their second meeting, it was a much different story. Glacier got out of the gates quickly, grabbing a 1-0 lead when Hayden Moistner scored for the Nationals just minutes into the game. Birch answered for Missoula, tying the game, but a goal from Lindros Beard put Glacier in front 2-1 after the first 20 minutes.

The score remained that way for most of the second period, before Zach Jaffe evened things up with 5:42 left in stanza. The score stayed tied at the start of the third, but a goal by Birch put Missoula in front, then three more goals by the Jr. Bruins put the game on ice.

Jonah Gower got the win for Missoula, finishing with 31 saves and allowing just two goals. Brendan Schultz was given the loss for the Nationals after allowing six goals. He did end the game with 45 saves.

The Nationals will be on the road this week, playing back-to-back games in Bozeman Friday and Saturday.