With key players out, Lumberjacks fall to Fargo to split weekend series

By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – It is tough to beat a good team twice and it’s especially hard to defeat a solid team when you’re without much of your firepower.

The Lumberjacks were without their three top scorers due to the upcoming all-star game, but also 35 percent of the squad’s offensive production through 32 games.

Fargo was just too much on “Star Wars” night for the shorthanded Lumberjacks, who fell 3-1 to the Force on Saturday night at the Trinity Health Arena.

Muskegon was without Sacha Boistvert, who leads the team with 19 goals, and both Joe Connor (Friday night’s hero) and Matvei Gridin, who each have 15 goals this season.

The Lumberjacks fought hard and kept the contest close throughout most of the night. Muskegon is now 19-12-2 on the season, good for 40 points and in a tight USHL’s Eastern Conference. The Lumberjacks will hit the road next weekend to play the Omaha Lancers both Friday and Saturday night. Faceoff is slated for 8:05 p.m. on Friday.

“I think we knew that they are a really good team and when you beat them on Friday that they were going to respond and have a push,” said Lumberjacks coach Parker Burgess. “That’s why they are in first place in the USHL. I thought we were chasing the game during the first period and so we made some adjustments and we had our chances.”

Muskegon only trailed by more than one goal for only the final two minutes of the contest.

The Force poured on the pressure early on as they outshot Muskegon 11-1 during the first 13 minutes of play.

Fargo found the back of the net at the 14:09 mark of the opening period on a goal from Zam Plante.

The Lumberjacks escaped the first period down by just one goal despite getting outshot by a commanding 18-2.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Force throughout most of the middle period. Both teams failed on their second power plays of the game.

The Jacks finally broke through late in the period as Justin Solovey took a pass from Cody Croal and wristed the puck into the net to tie the contest.

Muskegon was ticketed for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty just before the ensuing faceoff and the Force took full advantage. Lee Parks scored an unassisted power play goal 18:46 to give Fargo a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

The Force maintained their wide advantage in shots on goal as they outshot Muskegon 24-12 during the first two periods.

Fargo controlled the puck throughout most of the final period and outshot the Lumberjacks 14-3.

The Lumberjacks managed to keep the puck out of their net until late in the period. The Force extended their lead to 3-1 with a goal from Tanner Walos at 18:01.

Fargo outshot the Jacks 38-15. Lumberjacks’ goalie Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev played a strong game in net. He stopped 35-of-38 shots he faced.

“He has been great and has proven he can be a high caliber, elite level goalie,” Burgess said. “We are going to need that down the stretch, but I think our other two goalies are good and we have confidence in all three.”

The Lumberjacks were 0-for-2 on the power play, while Fargo went 1-for-5.