LocalSportsJournal.com
A tight win can sometimes produce a single hero as the key that lifts a team to victory. 
The Muskegon Lumberjacks had multiple heroes emerge in their exciting 3-2 win over Madison on Saturday night at Trinity Health Arena.
Owen Mehlenbacher came through in the final period of the night with the game-winning goal while goaltender Conor Callaghan carried the Lumberjacks to victory, stopping 34 of 36 shots.
The Muskegon penalty kill also showed grit, killing all eight powerplay opportunities for Madison.
Then there was Tyler Dunbar who assisted on all three Muskegon goals.
With the weekend sweep of Madison, Muskegon has now captured seven out of its last 10 games.
The Lumberjacks struggled to get its offense going against Madison on Saturday night, falling behind 1-0 after a Max Nagel goal in the first period.
Tyler Hotson put Muskegon on the board with just under two minutes left to play in the opening period. Hotson tallied the game’s lone powerplay goal on assists from David Hymovitch and Tyler Dunbar.
Muskegon was able to take a 2-1 lead on a shorthanded goal by Cody Croal to start the second period. Nicholas Rexine and Tyler Dunbar set up the play to put Muskegon ahead with 15 minutes to play in the stanza.
Jack Musa responded for Madison with 13 seconds left in the second period, tying the score at 2 apiece.
With just under 15 minutes to play, Jake Richard and Dunbar set up Mehlenbacher’s game-winning goal to put Muskegon on top, 3-2.
Muskegon is now 10-7 overall and battling for second place behind first-place Chicago in the Eastern Conference.
The Lumberjacks are fighting in a conference race that has three other teams in tight contention with Muskegon.
Team USA and Green Bay are currently tied for second place with 21 points while Dubuque and Muskegon are tied in fourth place with 20 points.
Muskegon will test itself in this early season with a three-game road trip next weekend. The Lumberjacks play a pair of games in Dubuque on Friday and Saturday and then play in Chicago on Sunday.
