LocalSportsJournal.com

The Muskegon Lumberjacks needed to change their trend in the wrong direction on the road in Nebraska on Friday.

Unfortunately, the Lumberjacks gave up four unanswered goals through the second and third periods and had no chance to rebound in a 6-3 loss to Tri-City at the Viaero Center.

Muskegon has now lost four in a row and seven of its last eight contests. The Jacks are now 8-7-2 overall, good for 18 points and a tie for fifth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference.

The Lumberjacks will look to earn a weekend split Saturday night against the Storm. Faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.

Muskegon fell behind early as the Storm opened with a Vladislav Lukashevich goal at the 5:26 mark of the first period for a 1-0 lead.

Patrick Raftery responded with a power play goal for the Lumberjacks midway through the opening period. The tally came just as the Jacks’ man advantage was about to expire.

Tri-City recaptured its lead at the 11:18 mark of the first period with a goal by Artemi Nizameyev to give the Storm a 2-1 lead.

Muskegon responded with its second power play goal of the game, this time from Joe Connor at the 17:04 mark. The Lumberjacks were able to carry the 2-2 score into the second period.

The tie was short lived as the Storm scored a pair of unanswered second period goals. Ryan Smith (7:25) and Cameron Briere (8:33) gave their team a 4-2 advantage heading into the final stanza.

Tri-City continued its onslaught in the third period with a goal from Jake Rozzi at the 11:11 mark. The storm added salt to Muskegon’s wounds with an August Falloon goal, taking a commanding 6-2 lead.

Connor closed out the game scoring for Muskegon, this time at the 15:18 mark of the third period. The tally was Connor’s second of the night and third power play goal for Muskegon.

Muskegon was outshot by a 42-32 margin against the Storm.

Paxton Geisel suffered the loss in net for the Lumberjacks, stopping 36-of-42 shots.

The Lumberjacks power play unit was a positive as the team went 3-for-4 on their man advantage, while Tri-City scored two power play goals in five chances.

East Young led Muskegon in assists with two on the night.