LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon Lumberjacks have already clinched a spot in this year’s postseason in the USHL and are now looking to lock down a top spot for a first round bye.
The Lumberjacks took one step closer with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday at the Covelli Centre in Ohio.
Both teams will play on Sunday in a rematch which is slated to start at 5:00 p.m. EST.
The Lumberjacks are currently 35-11-3 on the season, good for 73 points and first place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. They are 12 points ahead of second place Chicago.
Muskegon jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 1:34 into the contest on a goal from Bobby Lynch.
The Phantoms tied the game 1-1 on a goal by Matthew Barnaby at the 6:37 mark of the first period.
Nolan Sullivan gave the Lumberjacks a 2-1 advantage at the end of the first period with a power play tally 12:44 into the opening stanza.
Sullivan added another goal 9:59 into the second period to increase Muskegon’s advantage to 3-1 midway through the contest.
Youngstown managed to tie the game at 3-3 with a pair of second period goals from Brett Murray at the 15:03 mark and Barnaby 18:16 into the frame.
Both teams failed to score during the third period and five-minute overtime, leading to a three-round shootout.
Danil Gushchin and Egor Afanasyev each scored in the shootout while the Phantoms failed to score during their two attempts.
The Lumberjacks outshot Youngstown by a slim 36-35 margin.
Brandon Bussi stopped 32 of 35 shots in net for Muskegon.
