Playing their third game in four days – two ending in overtime – may have caught up with the Butte Cobras Saturday night. Opening with a comeback win over the Bozeman Icedogs on Wednesday in Helena, the Cobras traveled to Great Falls Saturday before closing the weekend in Bozeman. The Cobras put 33 shots on net, but couldn’t best goaltender Brendan Pellerito who stopped all but one in the Icedogs 5-1 victory.
Luke McKay and Kai Kingery gave the host an early 2-0 advantage, one that proved too much to overcome on this night. Butte goaltender Tommy Near turned aside 12 shots in the opening frame while the Cobras offense produced 10 shots on net.
More first period action courtesy of @ThomasBriscoe17 #NA3HL pic.twitter.com/oKBmqcREGB
— Butte Cobras (@Butte_Cobras) November 29, 2020
Both teams saw opportunities in the second, but Eric Thompson scored the lone goal of the frame to make it 3-0. That lead grew to 4-0 just 4:34 into the third when Justin Hayward scored on the powerplay.
The Cobras showed resolve though and would not give up. Randy Yeakley scored his first of the season with assists from Zane Cluphf and Cory Kane at 5:34 making it 4-1. Butte continues to create chances in the third, but Pellerito was up to the task stopping 13 of 14 shots. An empty net goal sealed the fate late in the period.
Pellerito earned the victory turning aside 32 of 33 shots faced while Near finished with 31 saves giving up four goals in 58 minutes played.