LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon Lumberjacks are trending upwards after struggling during the early part of February.
The Lumberjacks opened a short two-game road trip against the Youngstown
Phantoms on Friday and came way with a 4-2 win from the Covelli Centre in Ohio.
Muskegon has now won four straight games and is 20-11-3 on the season, good for 43 points and second place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. The Lumberjacks are five points behind first place Chicago.
The Lumberjacks will look to keep their winning streak alive Saturday night in a rematch against Youngstown. Faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Tanner Kelly opened the scoring for the Lumberjacks with goals at the 9:48 and 19:48 marks of the first period to give Muskegon a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.
The Phantoms cut their deficit to 2-1 with a power play goal at the 2:00 minute mark of the second period by Jack Malone.
Muskegon quickly regained its two-goal lead with a tally from Owen Mehlenbacher 2:35 into the second period.
The Lumberjacks led 3-1 heading into the third and final period.
Youngstown cut the Lumberjacks lead to 3-2 with a tally from Cole Burtch 3:53 into the third period on the power play.
Muskegon closed out the scoring at the 18:44 mark of the third period on an empty net goal by captain Dylan Wendt.
The Lumberjacks outshot Youngstown by a 34-24 advantage. Goalkeeper Nate Reid stopped 22-of-24 shots in net for Muskegon.
Thomas Sinclair, Jack Williams, Kyle Aucoin, Frankie Carogioiello, Hank Kempf and Quinn Hutson each notched an assist for the Lumberjacks.
