Wins over Butte, Billings vault team to thirdThe calendar read November, but the play on the ice was more indicative of February or March as the Yellowstone Quake finally broke through against the Billings Bulls with a 2-1 victory at Riley Arena on Friday night. The Quake also scored a 13-3 win at Butte over the weekend. “The win (over Billings) was a big one for us,” said Quake coach Craig Furstenau, who watched the game from the stands while serving a one-game suspension after being ejected late in a shoot-out loss at Billings the previous Sunday. “The guys played well and kept creating opportunities.”

Both goals and opportunities were at somewhat of a premium on Friday night. Yellowstone out-shot Billings by a 31-25 count as both defenses played solid.

Zachary Tuchklaper got the Quake off to a fast start, scoring just 89 seconds into the contest. The Bulls answered shortly after the 12-minute mark of the first period on a powerplay goal and the ensuing 1-1 score remained on the scoreboard into the third period.

After watching Billings win each of the two teams' previous four games this year by one-goal margins, including three in overtime, the Quake played the final 20 minutes determined to end things in regulation. Yellowstone out-shot Billings 13-5 over the final period, getting the game winner on a Branden Morganroth powerplay goal 3:32 into the third period.

What Friday's thriller against Billings lacked in scoring, Saturday's game at Butte more than made up for. Mitchell Pijanowski completed a hat trick before the second period came to a close and nine additional Quake players also lit the lamp in a 13-3 blowout.

Pijanowski wasted little time getting started on his big night, putting the Quake in front just eight seconds into the contest. Ethan Range and Justin Dennis scored just 20 seconds apart midway through the period to give Yellowstone a 3-0 lead. A pair of Butte goals sandwiched around the first of two Andrew Lord goals for the Quake to make it 4-2 Yellowstone after 20 minutes of skating.

Tuchklaper and Mathew Peddie scored in the first six minutes of the second period to increase the Quake's lead to 6-2 before Pijanowski completed his hat trick with back-to-back goals. All three of the Arvada, Colo., forward's goals were assisted by Alex Johansons.

The three goals by Pijanowski in the game were also his first of the season.

Johansons found himself on the scoring end of a goal in the third period. Drew Parus, Michael Mackinnon, Matthew Lantz and Lord also added goals in a final 20 minutes of hockey that the Quake controlled throughout.

The wins improve the Quake to an 8-9 record this season. More important, they vault the team into sole possession of third place in the NORPAC's America West division standings. The Quake are two points ahead of both Billings and Bozeman.

The Quake host Bozeman in their only game this week. The two teams will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Riley Arena in Cody.