By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON- The Muskegon Lumberjacks had yet another slow start, but this time the game had a much more positive result.
The Lumberjacks entered the middle period down a pair of goals, but a fight, a pair of power-play tallies and a late goal led to a 3-2 win over the Lincoln Stars on Saturday at Trinity Health Arena.
The Muskegon faithful came out loud and strong. In fact, at one point during the game, the crowd chanted the name of Detroit Lions quarterback, Jared Goff.
Goff is looking to lead the Lions to the NFC championship Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lumberjacks, wearing throwback jerseys from the Muskegon Mohawks, are also hoping to finish strong just like the Lions and they currently have a solid grip on a USHL playoff spot.
Muskegon is now 22-13-2 on the season, good for 46 points and third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference standings.
The Lumberjacks will complete their homestand Sunday with a rematch with the Stars. Faceoff is slated for 3:10 p.m.
“We have to address having slow starts,” said Lumberjacks coach Parker Burgess. “It hasn’t been a real problem until this weekend so hopefully it’s just coincidental.”
Muskegon, for the second straight night, won the special teams battle as it scored on two of its four power plays while killing all five of the Stars man advantages.
“They got the job down on special teams,” Burgess said. “They have been challenged numerous times and they have continued to step up. The penalty kill was lights out too. We killed some big penalties, especially during the third period.”
The Stars opened the scoring with a goal from Jack Pechar 12:32 into the opening period to give Lincoln a 1-0 lead. Lincoln added another tally four minutes later at the 16:32 mark with an unassisted goal by Dashel Oliver.
The Stars led 2-0 at the first intermission. Lincoln had 11 shots on goal during the first 20 minutes while the Lumberjacks could only muster five shots. The period was penalty free until the final buzzer when both teams were ticketed with roughing penalties.
The Lumberjacks continued their weekend success on the power play during the middle period and scored two unanswered goals and forced a 2-2 tie.
Sacha Boisvert scored the first power-play goal 7:43 before getting his second goal at 16:46. That power-play goal tied the game.
The Jacks grabbed their first lead with 50 seconds remaining in the period on a goal from Matvei Gridin.
Muskegon led 3-2 heading into the final stanza despite being outshot by 24-16.
The Lumberjacks committed a pair of early penalties, but Muskegon managed to keep the puck out of its net to maintain the lead.
The Stars pulled their goalie with about a minute to go in regulation, but Muskegon held on to seal the victory.
Lincoln outshot the Lumberjacks by 35-20. Goaltender Beau Lane returned to the lineup and stopped 33-of-35 shots faced.
“Our big players stepped up when we needed them,” Burgess said. “That is what guys have to do when the games are tight like this.”
Legendary Muskegon Mohawk captain Brian McLay during the ceremonial puck drop. Photo/Sondra Workman
Ethan Whitcomb (11) tries to poke the puck away from Lincoln’s Juan Copeland. Photo/Sondra Workman
Muskegon’s Bauer Berry lands a right hand on Dashel Oliver. Photo/Sondra Workman
