From Bozeman Daily Chronicle
The Montana State Bobcats held their ground at home Oct. 10 against their rivals, the University of Montana Grizzlies. After losing to the Bobcats 4-3 at home the night before, the Grizzlies showed a strong defensive effort to start the game.
Grizzlies defenseman Javier Hamlin was the first one to find the net with 5:38 remaining in the first period. The Grizzlies’ goalie was able to hold off an aggressive Bobcat offense in the first period. It ended with the Grizzlies leading 1-0.
Early in the second period defenseman Brayden Hindman put the Bobcats on the board with an assist from fellow defenseman Jake Taylor. As the game went on, the crowd got louder and more penalties were called. Grizzlies forward Johnny Baird was ejected and the team was issued a major penalty with 4:20 remaining in the second period.
The Bobcats capitalized on the advantage with a goal by forward Ryan Flaherty at 2:11, and again with a goal by forward Hudson Kerr with 1:20 remaining.
The Grizzlies proved they wouldn’t go down without a fight though. Grizzly forward Gabe Shepard had an impressive breakaway for a shorthanded goal with 11 seconds remaining in the period.
The third period started with the Bobcats leading 3-2, and still 40 seconds remaining in their power play. The Grizzlies were able to hold them off and tie the game at 18:01 when defenseman Gabe Kindgren got past the Montana State defense and knocked the puck in for a goal.
Later, a run-in with the Grizzlies goalie caused a scuffle that ended with Kindgren and Bobcats forward Jack Muhlfeld ejected from the game. One other player from each team received a minor penalty which made it 4-versus-4 until there was 3:22 left in the third.
As overtime began looking increasingly likely, Bobcats defenseman Colby Speth nailed one in the back of the net with 1:30 remaining, causing the fans to leap to their feet. And finally, to put the nail in the coffin, Bobcats forward Kaden Milles jammed the puck into the net with three seconds remaining. The Bobcats beat the Grizzlies 5-3. They will face each other again on Oct. 24 at Signal Peak Energy Arena in Billings, at 7 p.m.
(Originally published at https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/sports/montana_state/montana-state-scores-two-late-third-period-goals-to-beat-grizzlies/article_e875e86a-3458-40b3-bbc0-fc85478f68c2.html)
