Great Falls beats Nationals, 10-2

GREAT FALLS — Not much went right for the Glacier Nationals on Friday.

In their first game against an AWHL opponent since Nov. 10, the Nationals (1-7 AWHL, 12-11-1 overall) got hammered 10-2 by the Great Falls Americans (7-16-1).

Glacier surrendered five power-play goals and racked up 51 penalty minutes in the contest.

Daniil Kulikov opened the scoring for Great Falls, potting a pair of even-strength goals in the 11th and 18th minutes. Craig Buford added a power-play goal three seconds before the first period ended.

Great Falls struck three more times on the power play to take a 6-0 lead in the second period before Tucker Spooner scored a power-play goal to put the Nationals on the board.

Buford netted his second goal of the game less than a minute later before Daniel Roe answered for Glacier to make the score 7-2.

Great Falls scored three goals in the third period.

The Nationals host the AWHL-leading Helena Bighorns (20-0-1) today at 7:35 p.m. at Stumptown Ice Den in Whitefish.

Glacier 0 2 0 — 2

Great Falls 3 4 3 — 10

Scoring summary

First period

GF - Daniil Kulikov (assist Mikhal Kliment), 10:24

GF - Kulikov, 17:30

GF - PP Craig Buford (Robert Hubka), 19:57

Second period

GF - PP Connor Mize (Max Kaercher), 5:01

GF - PP Billy Grillo (Kliment), 9:27

GF - PP Grillo, 10:54

Gla - SH Tucker Spooner (Austin Givens), 10:59

GF - Buford, 11:26

Gla - Daniel Roe, 15:14

Third period

GF - Doug Keller (Matt Douglas), 2:49

GF - PP Dylan Garton (Keller), 17:35

GF - Keller (Garton), 19:47

Team statistics

Shots on goal - Glacier 16, Great Falls 24. Saves - Glacier 14 (Tyler Huberty), Great Falls 14 (Erik Powell). Power plays - Glacier 1-8, Great Falls 5-15. Penalty minutes - Glacier 51, Great Falls 39.