By Steve Gunn
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – Home has not been a happy place for the Muskegon Lumberjacks so far this season.LSJ Logo incert

They’ve been outshooting their visitors on a consistent basis, but can’t manage to outscore them.

Chris Klack takes the slap shot for Muskegon. Photo/Jason Goorman

Chris Klack takes the slap shot for Muskegon. Photo/Jason Goorman

The Lumberjacks looked flat in dropping their second straight home game of the season Saturday, 4-0, to the Madison Capitols in front of.1,378 fans at L.C. Walker Arena.

It was similar to last Saturday’s performance, when the Lumberjacks outshot Team USA by 41 but still lost the game. This week the differential wasn’t quite so blatant, but Muskegon still outshot Madison 40-22.

The Lumberjacks fell to 1-2 on the season while Madison improved to 2-2. Muskegon will return to action at home next Saturday at 7:15 p.m. against the Chicago Steel.

All in all, Saturday’s game was not a very nice gift for Lumberjacks Coach Todd Krygier, who turns 50 on Sunday.

“Defensively we’ve got to do a better job,” Krygier said after the game. “It’s not just the defensemen. It’s team defense, everybody having pride and the competitive nature to get back in the zone and help out on defense. We’ve got to continue to work on that.

Will Graber tries to sneak a shot past Madison goaltender Ryan Edquist. Photo/Jason Goorman

Will Graber tries to sneak a shot past Madison goaltender Ryan Edquist. Photo/Jason Goorman

“We’ve also got to get our chemistry going up front. I thought we were flat. I thought we were trying, but it just wasn’t happening. We can’t lose our confidence. It’s a long season. All we can do is prepare for Chicago next weekend.”

Power plays did not work in the Lumberjacks favor on Saturday.

The Capitols cashed in on two of four power play opportunities, while the Jacks were a miserable 0-for-5. On two occasions Madison was penalized, giving Muskegon a man

advantage, only to have the Jacks get a penalty a few seconds later, negating the advantage.

“We were undisciplined with the sticks,” Krygier said. “Stick penalties are just stupid. They have got to move their feet instead of just reaching out with their sticks. Those are lost opportunities we can’t make up for.”

The first period was scoreless.

Madison broke the deadlock at 2:46 of the second period on a power play goal by former Lumberjack Haralds Egle.

Charlie Parker controls the puck at the point for Muskegon. Photo/Jason Goorman

Trevor Hamilton controls the puck at the point for Muskegon. Photo/Jason Goorman

Ryan Lohim and Tyson McLellan added quick goals at 10:59 and 11:51 of the second period, respectively, to give the Madison a 3-0 lead at the intermission.

Sam McCormick finished the scoring for Madison with a goal at 1:09 of the third period.

Capitols goalie Ryan Edquist collected the shutout and was selected as the game’s No. 1 star.

Muskegon goalie Joey Daccord took the loss, stopping 18 of 22 shots.