LocalSportsJournal.com
A week ago the Muskegon Lumberjacks seemed to be peaking at the right time, with the playoffs right around the corner.
Suddenly they’ve gone into a funk.
The Jacks dropped a 5-1 decision to host Youngstown Saturday night, their second straight ugly loss following a five-game win streak.
They were shut out 4-0 by Team USA on Friday.
Lumberjacks are now 34-30-4 on the season, good for 72 points and fourth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. They are one point behind third-place Dubuque heading into the final two games of the regular season.
Youngstown’s Kyle Connor, the league’s leading scorer, was the biggest problem for the Jacks on Saturday, tallying five points with three goals and two assists.
Connor opened the scoring at 3:20 of the first period.
The Phantoms followed up with three second period goals to take a 4-0 lead.
Connor scored his second goal on the night at 1:34 of the second on the power play. Kole Sherwood and Chase Pearson scored at 10:35 and 12:06, respectively.
Muskegon’s Robbie DeMontis ended the Lumberjacks’ five period scoring drought at 1:11 of the third period to cut the deficit to 4-1. Matej Paulovic picked up the lone assist on the goal.
Youngstown responded with a hat trick goal by Connor at 6:55 of the third period.
Lumberjack’s goalie Eric Schierhorn stopped 25-of-30 Phantom shots while Youngstown’ goalie Chris Birdsall made 27 saves on 28 shots.
