MISSOULA – Vadim Zubkov helped the Bruins pull away in style and Missoula beat the Yellowstone Quake for a third straight time, 7-3.
The Bruins and Quake went nine minutes into the second period knotted up at one. Then, Wyatt Ploot scored a top-shelf wrist shot to put the Bruins on top.
Two minutes later, Zubkov broke loose on a breakaway after a great pass from Keith Zobel. Zubkov skated in front of goalie Michael Allman, brought the puck back between his own legs and lifted it over Allman at full speed to bring the crowd and all of his teammates to their feet.
Zubkov scored again later in the second, his 41st goal of the season. Missoula built the lead to 7-2 before the Quake tallied a final goal in the third period.
The Bruins remain in a tight battle for fourth place in the Frontier Division. The win moved Missoula one point ahead of the Gillette Wild. Yellowstone remains in last place in the division.
Missoula and Yellowstone will wrap up a four-game, two-week long series with another game in the Glacier Ice Rink at 7 p.m. Saturday night.
