MISSOULA – The Great Falls Americans rang in the new year in style Monday night. They made a trip to Missoula and cooled off the formerly hot Missoula Bruins, 10-3.
Missoula had won three straight going into the matchup, but the Americans kept pace with Helena for first place in the NA3HL Frontier Division with a dominating performance. The Bruins remain in fourth place.
The Americans broke the ice with two scores late in the first period and put the game away with five goals in the third period. Payton McSherry led the way with four goals, upping his season total to 33. Cody Dearing scored twice while also adding four assists.
Misha Akatnov scored his league-leading 42nd goal in the final seconds of the first period to cut the Americans’ lead to 2-1, but Missoula never came the close again after a Jack Olson goal early in the second period.
