Bulls reclaim top spot after blanking Blizzard
March 18, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Billings Bulls News Release
The Bulls knew this past weekend was going to be one of the most physically and mentally exhausting of the entire season, with three games in less than 50 hours and all them at separate locations. The goal was six points and, while the Bulls didn't quite meet their goal, they got the next best thing -- five points.
The weekend started at the Valley Ice Garden with the Bulls wrapping up their 14-game regular season series with the Bozeman IceDogs. The Bulls had dominated the season series to that point, taking 11 of the previous 13 meetings, but knew that one loss here at this crucial point in the year would arguably make the IceDogs season. Thankfully, the Bulls were more than ready for the IceDogs attack and were able to overcome two third period ties en route to a 5-3 victory.
Sean Bertsch, Jeff Christiansen, Brian Kaufman, Anders Olson and Gabe Harren all scored for Billings, while Aaron Damjanovich stopped 21 of 24 shots to preserve the victory for the Bulls.
The team then hopped on the bus and headed home knowing another road trip was in store for the following afternoon.
Day Two of the Bulls' busy weekend saw them travel to Helena to take on the Bighorns at the Helena Ice Arena, one of the toughest buildings to play in in the North American Hockey League. The Bulls were down 3-1 heading into the third period, with Anthony Cosmano the only Bull to solve Helena netminder Dan Vasquez through the opening 40 minutes. The Bulls displayed incredible resolve and character though as they flexed their comeback muscles and put home a pair of goals to send this one to overtime.
Jeff Hazelwood scored 7:47 into the third to cut the Helena lead to one, and then Hazelwood completed the comeback with a beautiful wrist shot from the bottom of the circle to tie the hockey game 3-3.
The game then shifted into the five minutes of four-on-four overtime, which saw neither side able to bury the other. That meant it was time for another shootout, the third between these clubs this season.
The teams had split their two previous shootouts, but on this night the potent offensive attack of Helena proved to be too much as Brandon Marino and Larry Willard both scored in the shootout, while Jeff Hazelwood, Kaufman, Cosmano and Nick Deutz all came up empty for Billings. It went into the books as a 4-3 overtime loss for the Bulls, but Billings came away with one point from the contest.
The long weekend concluded Sunday afternoon with the Bulls returning to their home ice at the MetraPark Arena to host the Minnesota Blizzard. It was the third game in as many days for the Blizzard as well, and while fatigue appeared to be a factor for them, it most certainly was not for the Bulls.
With goals from Olson, Dusty Jackson, Christiansen, Scott Dana and Ian Schaser, the Bulls cruised to a 5-0 victory. Jon Anderson was rarely tested but made the saves he was supposed to make en route to his third shutout of the season.
With the win, the Bulls improved their record to 33-15-6. With the five points, the Bulls leapfrogged the Fargo-Moorhead Jets and reasserted themselves as the top dog in the NAHL's West Division. The Bulls now lead the West with 72 points, but still have Fargo in their rearview mirror, only two points back and with three big games in hand.
The Bulls will play their final two games of the regular season this week and they will be huge as they welcome the Jets to the MetraPark both on Wednesday night and then Sunday afternoon. Even though Helena still has an outside chance of taking the division, all signs indicate that it's going to come down these two teams and these two games.
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North American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2005
- U-18s roll past Toledo, 13-0 - U.S. National Team
- Wildcats Dan DiLeo will Attend Cornell - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Bozeman vs Fargo-Moorhead Tonight, Bismarck Tomorrow - Bozeman Icedogs
- Van Culin Named Ferris' CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Voice of Bighorns to call 500th game next Saturday - Helena Bighorns
- Indians-U18s battle was hockey at its best - Soo Indians
- Tornado win 40 games and division for sixth straight season - Texas Tornado
- Bishop earns NAHL Defensive Player of the Week - Texas Tornado
- Bulls reclaim top spot after blanking Blizzard - Billings Bulls
- Jr. Blues Gumaer headed to Bentley - Springfield Jr. Blues
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