By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Lumberjacks were snake bitten offensively in the first of three games at Trinity Health Arena this weekend.

After giving up an early goal caused by a turnover, it took the Lumberjacks until the third period to finally find the back of the net.

Muskegon’s Xavier Veilleux. Photo/Sondra Workman

The Buccaneers responded with the eventual game-winning goal at the 11:39 mark of the third period to propel Des Moines to a 2-1 win over Muskegon on Friday night.

The Lumberjacks winning streak ended at two games and they are now 21-13-2 on the season, good for 44 points and currently third place in a tight USHL Eastern Conference race. Muskegon will return to action on Saturday with the start of a two-game series against the Lincoln Stars. Saturday’s contest is slated for 7:10 p.m.

“I think we started to find our game about a third into the second period,” said Lumberjacks coach Parker Burgess. “But we didn’t show up in the first period and we started to have to chase the game.”

Des Moines’ goaltender Jonathan Reinholdt played tremendously, making key stops to keep the Jacks from taking control of the game. Reinholdt stopped all but one shot, making 35 saves in the contest.

The Buccaneers opened the scoring 6:22 into the opening period on an unassisted goal from Liam Watkins after Muskegon turned the puck over inside its own zone.

Patrick Raftery controls along the boards for Muskegon. Photo/Sondra Workman

Des Moines led 1-0 after the opening period and had a 17-10 shots on goal advantage over the Lumberjacks.

It looked like the Lumberjacks scored the equalizer at the 14:50 mark of the second period, but after video replay, it was determined the puck didn’t completely cross the goal line.

The middle period was a scoreless, penalty-free period with the Jacks outshooting Des Moines 15-9 and 26-24 through two periods.

The Jacks were finally given their first power-play opportunity 1:37 into the third period.

Muskegon took full advantage of the extra man at 3:02 with a power-play goal by David Klee that tied the game.

The Buccaneers responded with a goal from Ashton Dahms 11:39 into the third period to take a 2-1 lead heading into crunch time.

The Lumberjacks were forced to kill a two-minute power play with four minutes remaining and they successfully did it to keep the contest a one-goal game.

Muskegon pulled its goalie in the final minutes of action, but failed to tie the game and force overtime.

The Lumberjacks outshot Des Moines 40-36. Muskegon goaltender Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev stopped 34-of-36 shots faced.

Muskegon scored on its lone power play while killing both of Des Moines’ extra-man advantages.