Glacier Nationals fall in finale to Missoula Maulers

WHITEFISH — The Missoula Maulers handed the Glacier Nationals a 6-1 loss in their regular season finale at Stumptown Ice Den Saturday, leaving Glacier’s playoff hopes in the hands of the West Sound Warriors.

The Nationals and the Tri-Cities Outlaws are tied for the NORPAC’s final playoff spot with 37 points apiece and the Outlaws wrap up their season today against league-leading West Sound.

Glacier’s playoff position looked much stronger three weeks ago, but the Nationals finished their season with five straight losses.

“We’re all nervous that’s for sure,” Nationals captain Paul Kinder said.

“We’re depressed about these last few games we’ve had but we kept our heads up for the full 60 minutes today. Hopefully West Sound can come through for us.”

Glacier (17-20-3 overall, 4-15-1 AWHL) outshot and outplayed Missoula (28-18-2 AWHL) in the opening period and had a 1-0 lead to show for it, but the Maulers took control of the game with five unanswered goals in the second period while Glacier failed to produce many scoring chances.

“They were better,” Nationals coach Joakim Falt said.

“We gave it our best shot but it didn’t work.

“We might have been better the first 20 minutes, but 1-0 isn’t going to hold up against that team.”

Maulers forward Anders Nord knocked in a rebound for the first of his three goals 1 minute and 23 seconds into the second period. Joey Sundgren put Missoula ahead less than five minutes later with a shorthanded goal after a defensive-zone giveaway by the Nationals.

Nord extended the Missoula lead with a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 10:38 and the Maulers added two more goals before the end of the period to go ahead 5-1.

“Our emotions got a little high and we got a little overconfident,” Kinder said.

“We thought we could do it, but we couldn’t pull through.”

A constant stream of penalties kept either team from building much momentum in the third period, but great individual effort by a Missoula’s Zach Paisley gave the Maulers a sixth goal. Paisley skated coast-to-coast, blew by the Glacier defense, deked goaltender Mitch Tyson and scored low to the glove side.

Falt said that play epitomized the difference between NORPAC and AWHL teams.

“They’re all a little bit bigger and a little bit better,” he said.

“They’re more skilled.”

Missoula gave Glacier problems all season and was 3-0 against the Nationals entering the game. Glacier played half its games against NORPAC opponents and half against teams from the AWHL. Its combined points count toward NORPAC playoff qualification and while it went 13-5-2 in NORPAC games, its playoff hopes are hanging by a thread because of a 4-15-1 record against the AWHL.

Danny Roe scored Glacier’s only goal 7:29 into the first period. Sebastian Adnell and Jay Johnstone.

Missoula 0 5 1 — 6

Glacier 1 0 0 — 1

Scoring summary

First period

Gla - Danny Roe (assist Sebastian Adnell, Jay Johnstone), 7:29

Second period

Mis - Anders Nord (Connor McNally, Brett Mathews), 1:23

Mis - SH Joey Sundgren (Paige Stensgar-Maul), 6:00

Mis - PP Nord (Dustin Pierce, Dylan Chase), 10:38

Mis - Chase (Stensgar-Maul, Sundgren), 15:40

Mis - Nord (McNally, Mathews), 16:04

Third period

Mis - Zach Paisley (Chase), 8:59

Team statistics

Shots on goal - Missoula 46, Glacier 29. Saves - Missoula 28 (Cody Janzen), Glacier 40 (Mitch Tyson). Power plays - Missoula 1-8, Glacier 0-5. Penalty minutes - Missoula , Glacier .

Friday

Glacier 1 3 0 — 4

Missoula 4 1 3 — 8

Scoring summary

First period

Mis - Joey Sundgren (assists Paige Stensgar-Maul, Dylan Chase), 1:16

Mis - PP Jordan Wheatly (Chase, Donovan Mattfeldt), 8:02

Mis - PP Viktor Steenson (Tyler Cosentino, Christian Manning), 16:40

Gla - Greg Heimann, 16:45

Mis - Stensgar-Maul (Sundgren, Anders Nord), 17:01

Second period

Gla - Sebastian Adnell (Danny Roe, Chris Cutshall), 4:12

Gla - PP Cutshall (Adnell, Brandon Vitale), 4:34

Mis - Mattfeldt (Jason Henry, Cosentino), 7:15

Gla - Austin Givens (Paul Kinder, Cutshall), 9:48

Third period

Mis - PP Henry (Zach Paisley, Chase), 2:11

Mis - Sundgren, 10:03

Mis - PP Mattfeldt (Paisley, Chase), 14:15

Team statistics

Shots on goal - Glacier 21, Missoula 42. Saves - Glacier 34 (Tyler Huberty), Missoula 17 (Cody Janzen). Power plays - Glacier 1-5, Missoula 4-12. Penalty minutes - Glacier 24, Missoula 14.