Team cashes in on early opportunities in Game oneThe Yellowstone Quake hockey team capitalized early and often on power-play situations Tuesday night, then rode a stellar performance from goalie Alex Larson to a 5-2 victory in game one of the NORPAC America West divisional championship series in Cody. Andrew Lord and Jake Doty scored power-play goals in the opening 10 minutes, on the team's first two extra-man advantages of the night. The scores gave the Quake a quick a two-goal edge against the division's regular-season champion Helena Bighorns. The pair teamed up later in the period to assist Kory Sosnowski on a full-strength goal to build the Quake's lead to three and bring a raucous Riley Arena crowd roaring into the first intermission. Nick Kent added a power-play goal in the second period while Alex Odea's solo breakaway shot five minutes into the third period staked the Quake to a 5-0 lead. Helena tabbed a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes to bring the final score back to a respectable three-goal margin, but never was able to resemble the team that went through the regular season with only five losses against the Quake's back line.“We talked before the game (about getting off to a fast start),” said Quake coach Sean Hogan. “All four of our lines played well tonight.”The fast start shook the dynamic of the game from the early minutes on and appeared to rattle the Bighorns, who lost the services of Tyler Miller to a game ejection for his role in a four-man brawl shortly after Kent's goal to make it 4-0 midway through the second period. For the game, the Quake scored on 3-of-7 extra-man attempts. That figure stood in stark contrast to the Bighorns' performance in extra-man situations. Helena enjoyed 10 power-play opportunities, including a brief two-man advantage late in the first period and a four-minute extra-man stretch to open the third period, but was unable to capitalize until the last of those chances. By that point, 79 seconds were all that remained in the contest and the game's outcome was no longer in doubt. “We work on that a lot in practice,” Hogan said of his team's penalty killing unit, which enjoyed a similar penalty-kill efficiency in its recent sweep of Missoula.Quake goalie Alex Larson found himself tested throughout the night as Helena's extra-man advantages translated into a 57-37 shooting edge for the Bighorns. Time and again, the man selected as net-minder to the NORPAC's all-rookie team proved up to the test.“There's someone that should be getting attention from a higher division when the season is over,” Hogan said of Larson. The Quake received the opportunity to host the first two games of the series, despite having a poorer regular-season record, after scheduling conflicts with the ice arena in Helena forced the Bighorns to play games one and two in Cody. After Tuesday night, it appeared that could play a significant role in the series. “It makes a big difference,” Hogan said of the venue change. “Our guys weren't riding on a bus all day. They're not sleeping at a motel. We have the opportunity to go to Helena needing to win just once.”Game two of the Quake-Bighorn divisional championship series took place Wednesday night after Thursday's paper went to press. A write-up on that contest appears on the Powell Tribune's blog. The series resumes in Helena with game three on Friday. Additional games, if needed, will take place Saturday and Sunday, also in Helena.

Team cashes in on early opportunities in Game one

The Yellowstone Quake hockey team capitalized early and often on power-play situations Tuesday night, then rode a stellar performance from goalie Alex Larson to a 5-2 victory in game one of the NORPAC America West divisional championship series in Cody.

Andrew Lord and Jake Doty scored power-play goals in the opening 10 minutes, on the team's first two extra-man advantages of the night. The scores gave the Quake a quick a two-goal edge against the division's regular-season champion Helena Bighorns. The pair teamed up later in the period to assist Kory Sosnowski on a full-strength goal to build the Quake's lead to three and bring a raucous Riley Arena crowd roaring into the first intermission.

Nick Kent added a power-play goal in the second period while Alex Odea's solo breakaway shot five minutes into the third period staked the Quake to a 5-0 lead. Helena tabbed a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes to bring the final score back to a respectable three-goal margin, but never was able to resemble the team that went through the regular season with only five losses against the Quake's back line.

“We talked before the game (about getting off to a fast start),” said Quake coach Sean Hogan. “All four of our lines played well tonight.”

The fast start shook the dynamic of the game from the early minutes on and appeared to rattle the Bighorns, who lost the services of Tyler Miller to a game ejection for his role in a four-man brawl shortly after Kent's goal to make it 4-0 midway through the second period.

For the game, the Quake scored on 3-of-7 extra-man attempts. That figure stood in stark contrast to the Bighorns' performance in extra-man situations. Helena enjoyed 10 power-play opportunities, including a brief two-man advantage late in the first period and a four-minute extra-man stretch to open the third period, but was unable to capitalize until the last of those chances. By that point, 79 seconds were all that remained in the contest and the game's outcome was no longer in doubt.

“We work on that a lot in practice,” Hogan said of his team's penalty killing unit, which enjoyed a similar penalty-kill efficiency in its recent sweep of Missoula.

Quake goalie Alex Larson found himself tested throughout the night as Helena's extra-man advantages translated into a 57-37 shooting edge for the Bighorns. Time and again, the man selected as net-minder to the NORPAC's all-rookie team proved up to the test.

“There's someone that should be getting attention from a higher division when the season is over,” Hogan said of Larson.

The Quake received the opportunity to host the first two games of the series, despite having a poorer regular-season record, after scheduling conflicts with the ice arena in Helena forced the Bighorns to play games one and two in Cody. After Tuesday night, it appeared that could play a significant role in the series.

“It makes a big difference,” Hogan said of the venue change. “Our guys weren't riding on a bus all day. They're not sleeping at a motel. We have the opportunity to go to Helena needing to win just once.”

Game two of the Quake-Bighorn divisional championship series took place Wednesday night after Thursday's paper went to press. A write-up on that contest appears on the Powell Tribune's blog. The series resumes in Helena with game three on Friday. Additional games, if needed, will take place Saturday and Sunday, also in Helena.