In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Gillette Wild escaped with a 4-2 victory over the Great Falls Americans.
No lead was more than two goals during the contest, and the winning goal was scored byGreg Sauers at 12:37 of the second period.
In the losing effort, Great Falls was sparked by Dylan Garton, who registered two goals. Garton scored the first of his two goals on the power play at 2:03 into the second period to make the score 1-1. The Americans had taken the advantage when Gillette's Moco Willis got sent off for roughing. Aaron McInnis picked up the assist. Garton's next tally on the power play made the score 3-2 Gillette with 8:14 left in the third period. Great Falls had gotten the advantage when the Wild's Willis was sent off for roughing. McInnis assisted on the tally.
Gillette was led by Nick Mead, who had one goal. Mead scored 6:57 into the third period to make the score 3-1 Gillette. Sauers provided the assist.
The Wild kept the Americans' goalie busy throughout the game, and Evan Hauser made 36 saves on 40 shots.
Gillette additionally got points from Sauers, who also grabbed one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Others who scored for Gillette included Dalton McCann and King A, who each put in one. In addition, Gillette received assists from Tyler Reble, Will Fobair, Darren Banks, and Brandon Castleberry, who each chipped in one.
Great Falls put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow Gillette to score on any of its three power plays. The Americans did not reach the goal total they have come to expect this season. Great Falls puts an average of 4.9 pucks into the net per game. The Americans forced the Wild goalie Michael Kitts to work between the pipes, taking 33 shots.
More assists for Great Falls came via Cody Page and Connor Barta, who contributed one a piece.
Kitts rejected 31 shots on goal for Gillette. The Wild ended with 23 minutes in penalty time with nine minors and one major. Great Falls totaled 16 minutes in penalty time with three minors and two majors and went 2-for-8 on the power play.