LocalSportsJournal.com

 
The Muskegon Lumberjacks did what they haven’t been able to do very often this season and that’s win back-to-back games.
 
Muskegon took down Team USA, 7-4, in its second-straight win at Trinity Health Arena. 
The hard-fought win against Team USA’s under 17 squad, came after the Lumberjacks lost an early lead on Friday night. 

Muskegon jumped out to a 2-0 lead, let Team USA take a 3-2 lead, then tallied five goals in the final half of the contest.

Ethan Whitcomb and Niko Rexine lifted Muskegon with two goals each. 

Muskegon is now 20-21-2 overall for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. 

If Muskegon wants to get back into the hunt for the post season, the team will have to break out of its current seventh-place spot. 
 
With 19 games left in the regular season, Muskegon will have to put the pedal to the metal if it has hopes for a berth into the Clark Cup Playoffs. 
The win didn’t come easy as Muskegon was heavily outshot 41-24, something it will have to turn around in the next 19 games. 

Muskegon found the win at Team USA’s expense, tallying three power-play goals on four opportunities. The penalty kill was huge in the win, stopping five of six Team USA power plays. 

Whitcomb tallied Muskegon’s opening goal and Callow followed up two minutes later, giving their team an early 2-0 lead.

Team USA’s Logan Hensler responded with a power-play goal with a minute left in the period, cutting Muskegon’s lead to a 2-1 advantage. 

Two early second period goals by the visitors forced Muskegon to regain its early momentum. Christian Humphreys and Kamil Bednarik tallied the two Team USA goals.

The Lumberjacks gathered its composure with a Whitcomb goal to tie things up with his second goal of the night and 17th of the season. Rexine’s power-play goal two minutes later put back on top for a 4-3 lead.

Team USA’s John Whipple tied the game at 4-4, but that was as close as Muskegon would allow the rest of the way.

Cody Croal and Ethan Fredericks put the Lumberjacks up 6-4 and Rexine scored the lone goal in the third on a power play to put Muskegon over the finish line.

Jacks goalie Raythan Robbins stopped 37 of 41 shots to earn the win.

Check out photos from the win shot by Sondra Workman.Â