Team wins two of three

The Yellowstone Quake was just seconds away from registering a sweep of West Sound and moving into the upper echelon of the NORPAC hockey standings over the weekend. Instead, the team will have to settle for being within striking distance after winning two of three home games.

The Quake simply overwhelmed West Sound 11-2 to open a three-game weekend series against the former Pacific Division club. The Quake also grabbed a 7-6 win on Friday before being edged 4-3.

The results left the Quake 6-7 on the season and tied for fourth place in the seven-team NORPAC. The team is just three points out of second place at the moment.

Drew Parus scored twice in the first period last Thursday to begin an 11-goal barrage. He would eventually finish the night with a hat trick. The Quake also received two goals each from Alex Johansons and Matthew Schulz. Michael Pijanowski, Derek Scott, Zachary Tuchklaper and Mitchell Pijanowski also lit the lamp as the Quake held a 4-0 lead before the 11-minute mark of period one and were never seriously threatened.

Friday’s game was a far more competitive affair with West Sound jumping out to a 2-0 lead midway through period one. Schulz and TJay Lozier scored 60 seconds apart to knot the contest at 2-2 entering the first intermission.

Schulz struck again 57 seconds into the second period to provide the Quake with their first lead, but West Sound countered with a trio of goals to go up 5-3. Schulz completed his hat trick with 3:30 remaining in the second periold, leaving the Quake one goal behind at the second intermission.

Parus needed just 16 seconds to cover that gap in the third period. West Sound again regained the lead with just under 11 minutes to play, but goals from Tuchklaper and Parus in the final five minutes lifted the Quake to victory.

Overall, it was an action-filled contest. The teams combined for 111 shots on goal.

Saturday’s finale followed Friday’s script of close hockey. The Quake and West Sound exchanged shorthanded goals in the first seven minutes to open scoring. Schulz was credited with the score for the man-down goal for the Quake.

West Sound countered 23 seconds later off the power play for a 2-1 lead at the intermission.

In the second period, Schulz scored again with just under seven minutes to play. Scott added a powerplay goal for the Quake with 2:26 remaining and it appeared Yellowstone would carry a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

Instead, Brian Farkas beat the buzzer with a tying shot to end the period and knot the contest at 3-3. The game remained close until West Sound capitalized on a late power play opportunity to score the game winner with 26 seconds to play.

The Quake play one game at Eugene, Ore., on Friday before opening a three-game series at Vancouver, Wash., on Saturday. The team will wrap up the week with a Tuesday game at West Sound, followed by two games recently added to the schedule (see related story) at the Glacier Nationals on Nov. 18-19.