MISSOULA – The Missoula Bruins needed a few extra seconds, but they finished off a weekend sweep of the Bozeman Icedogs, 4-3, on Saturday.
Misha Akatnov scored 36 seconds into overtime to give the Bruins the win. Akatnov also scored in the second period, giving Missoula a 3-1 lead at the time. Akatnov’s 40 goals this season are tied for the league lead in the NA3HL. The Russian sensation also added two assists.
Bozeman made a comeback in the final 10 minutes. Wyatt Burrell scored midway through the third period, and Duncan McGarrah tied the game with only 16 seconds left in regulation.
Neither team scored for the first 26 minutes. Then Vadim Zubkov and Tyler Prince put The Bruins on the board twice, a minute apart in the second period.
Missoula’s win moves them to within one point of fourth-place Gillette for the Frontier Division’s final playoff spot. Missoula and Gillette will play each other four times in the next three weeks.
Bozeman remains in last place with only three wins on the season.
