Bruins prove too strong for Glacier Nationals

For much of the 2016-17 NA3HL season, the Glacier Nationals have been plagued by a struggling offense. And this past weekend, the Nationals offense had issues again, scoring once in two games, as Glacier lost twice to the Missoula Jr. Bruins.

Missoula hosted Glacier both Friday and Saturday, and easily defeated the Nationals both nights by the scores of 8-0 and 7-1. The Nationals, who have twice been shut out by Missoula this season, are averaging just 1.2 goals per game and have a 1-36-1 record. They are now winless in their last 29 outings.

In the first meeting between the two teams Friday, the Nationals held Missoula scoreless until the mid-way point of the first period, when the Jr. Bruins scored twice to take a 2-0 lead after one.

Yet, in the second period, Missoula poured it on offensively. For the game, the Jr. Bruins outshot the Nationals 59-22. In the second 20 minutes alone, Missoula had 20 shots, scoring on four of them to go ahead 6-0. The Jr. Bruins added two more scores in the third period to make the final 8-0.

Josh Chamberlain scored twice for the Jr. Bruins, while six other skaters also found the net for Missoula. Tanner Loucks got the win between the pipes, after stopping all 22 shots he faced. Will Langstaff of Glacier was hit with the loss. He had 51 saves on 59 shot attempts.

In the second game Saturday night, the Jr. Bruins again scored the first two goals of the game, to go up 2-0 after one period of play. In the second period, 29-Missoula shots, led to three goals and suddenly it was 5-0, before Glacier got its first goal of the weekend from Tim Vantinen late in the second to make it 5-1.

The Jr. Bruins, who got seven goals from seven different players, added two more goals in the third period to wrap up the six-goal victory. Joe Chekan got the win for the Missoula, after allowing one goal on 22 shots. Brendan Schultz got the loss for Glacier. He stopped 62 shots, but also allowed seven goals on 69 shots faced.

The Nationals will be back in Havre, starting this Friday for back-to-back home games against the Billings Bulls. The two teams will begin their two-game set Friday.