BILLINGS – The Missoula Maulers capped the weekend Sunday with a solid 7-3 Northern Pacific Hockey League victory over the Billings Bulls.
Doug Raymond scored twice and added an assist for the Maulers, who upped their record to 15-8 after beginning the evening having lost three of their last four. Zach Frye added a goal and three assists for Missoula, Martin Dubec, Tyler Marek and Grey Edwards each scored a goal apiece and Matt Anthone assisted on three goals.
After giving up a short-handed tally by Michael Persigehl in the early stages, the Maulers responded with seven unanswered goals. That included four in the first period – one each by Dubec, Frye, Marek and Edwards.
Raymond scored the lone goal of the second before opening the scoring in the third with a power-play goal, followed by Grimm’s tally.
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The Bulls scored twice in the final five minutes, but fell to 9-13.
Andy DiCristofaro made just 15 saves in earning the win in goal for the Maulers, who face the Yellowstone Quake at home Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Missoula   4   1   2   –   7
Billings   1   0   2   –   3
First period
B – Michael Persigehl (short handed) (Paul Hoffman), 2:39
M – Martin Dubec (Doug Raymond, Julian Breux), 5:14
M – Zach Frye (Matt Anthone), 10:48
M – Tyler Marek (Frye), 15:48
M – Grey Edwards (Jacob Grimm, Anthone), 18:21
Second period
M – Raymond (Breux, Frye), 18:37
Third period
M – Raymond (power play) (Anthone), 14:14
M – Grimm (Aaron Arnold), 15:21
B – Zeke Yslas (Stormy Knight, Jason Effertz), 16:49
B – Hoffman (Justin Bonanno), 19:20
Shots – Missoula 24, Billings 18. Saves – Missoula 15 (Andy DiCristofaro), Billings 17 (Jake Mandin). Penalties – Missoula 6, Billings 7. Officials – Josh Laird, Jared Boyce.
