LocalSportsJournal.com
PLYMOUTH – The Muskegon Lumberjacks showed their offensive depth as five different players found the back of the net on Friday night in Plymouth.
The Jacks captured their second straight victory, defeating the Under-17 Team USA squad 5-2 at the USA Hockey Arena.
Muskegon is now 6-2 on the season, good for 12 points and is currently tied for first place with Dubuque in the USHL’s Eastern Conference standings.
The Lumberjacks will host the Under-17 squad Saturday at Trinity Health Arena. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m.
It will be the first game of a four-game homestand for Muskegon.
Matvei Gridin opened the scoring for the Lumberjacks at the 7:01 mark of the opening period.
Lumberjack goaltender Lukas Swedin
Team USA tied the game 1-1 with a goal from LJ Mooney 11:43 into the first period.
The contest was tied 1-1 at the first intermission with the Lumberjacks outshooting Team USA, 13-9.
A couple of defensemen notched their first goal of the season for Muskegon during the middle period.
Easton Young gave the Jacks a 2-1 lead with a goal at the 10:58 mark of the second period, while Filip Nordberg increased Muskegon’s lead to 3-1 with a tally 15:16 into the middle stanza.
The Lumberjacks had a 26-16 shooting advantage over Team USA heading into the final period.
Team USA cut its deficit to 3-2 with a goal from Jack Murtagh at the 8:28 mark of the third period.
The Jacks closed out the scoring with a pair of empty-net goals from Hunter Anderson at the 18:51 mark of the third period and Teddy Spitznagel with 15 seconds remaining in the contest.
Young led the Lumberjacks with two assists to go with his one goal, while Sam Spehar also chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Muskegon outshot its opponent, 38-17.
Lukas Swedin earned the win in net for the Lumberjacks, stopping 15-of-17 shots faced.
The Lumberjacks were 1-for-2 on their man advantage while killing 2-of-3 Team USA power plays.
