LocalSportsJournal.com
There is nothing more exciting in hockey than having a chance to win a game on a penalty shot.
Muskegon Lumberjacks’ leading scorer Rem Pitlick had that chance 45 seconds into overtime Wednesday after being slashed on a breakaway opportunity.
Pitlick didn’t waste the chance, scoring his seventh goal of the season to lead the Lumberjacks over the Youngstown Phantoms 2-1 at the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Lumberjacks have won six of their last seven games.
Muskegon improved to 8-7 on the season, good for 16 points and sixth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference, six points behind first-place Dubuque.
The first period of the game was scoreless with the Lumberjacks outshooting Youngstown 12-8.
Muskegon’s Graham Lillibridge finally broke the scoring drought with a goal at the 16:13 mark of the second period. Pitlick and Nathaniel Kallen picked up assists on the goal.
The Phantoms tied the game at 1-1 with only 1:26 left in regulation on a goal from Cameron Morrison. The goal came after Youngstown’s goaltender was pulled for the extra attacker.
Pitlick was slashed 45 seconds into overtime, was awarded a penalty shot, and connected to give the Lumberjacks the victory.
Lumberjacks’ goaltender Joey Daccord stopped 25 of 26 shots to pick up the victory.
The Lumberjacks will return home for the weekend to host the Tri-City Storm Friday and Saturday night at the L.C. Walker Arena.
