LocalSportsJournal.com

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are a talented offensive team, but lately they haven’t been scoring many goals.

That changed in a big way on Friday night.

The Lumberjacks exploded for nine goals, including four in the second period, to beat the host Chicago Steel 9-2.

The Lumberjacks’ “MPM Line” of Tom Marchin, Matej Paulovic and Griffen Molino did much of the damage, totaling four goals and six assists on the night.

Muskegon is now 29-17-4, good for 62 points and third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. The Lumberjacks now have a 10 point lead in the race for the final playoff spot with 10 games to go.

Corey Schuenemen opened the scoring for the Jacks with a goal at 5:30 of the first period.

Matheson Iacopelli gave the Jacks a 2-0 lead at 18:16 of the first period.

Molino scored at 4:19 of the second period to give the Jacks a 3-0 lead.

Max Humitz added a shorthanded goal at 8:47 of the second period to give Muskegon a commanding 4-0 edge.

The Jacks continued the onslaught when Molino scored his second goal of the night at 16:59 of the second period.

Dante Palecco added to the fun by scoring his first goal of the season at 18:07 of the second period.

Paulovic and Marchin added goals at 3:17 and 6:55 of the third period, respectively, to give the Jacks an 8-0 lead.

David Keefer capped off the scoring with a goal at 13:36 of the third period. putting Muskegon up 9-0.

Chicago’s Tanner Laczynski and Marcel Godbout had late goals for Chicago.

Eric Schierhorn got the win in goal for Muskegon by stopping 21 of 23 shots.