LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Lumberjacks earned a critical two points in the United States Hockey League standings on Friday night with a 3-2 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers.
Muskegon’s Matvei Gridin. Photo/Sondra Workman
The game was played at Trinity Health Arena and saw the end of Muskegon’s three-game losing streak.
On Saturday night, the teams will do battle once again on the Lumberjacks’ home ice. Game time is 7:10 p.m.
The game featured two of the top teams in the league, including the Musketeers who has already clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Muskegon improved its record to 32-20-1-1 for 66 points in the Eastern Conference.
Cody Croal scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 12:21 of the final period that broke a 2-all tie and sent the Lumberjacks to the one-goal victory.
After a scoreless opening period, Muskegon got the board when Sacha Boisvert scored his 31st goal of the season. Assists were credited to David Klee and Ethan Whitcomb. That goal came just 31 seconds into the middle period.
Sioux City knotted the score at the 5:08 mark on a goal by Colin Kessler. But, then Muskegon regained the lead at 12:56 on Matvei Gridin’s 31st goal of the season. Croal and Joe Connor assisted on that tally. Gridin is the leading point producer in the league with 70 points on 31 goals and 39 assists.
Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev makes the save for Muskegon. Photo/Sondra Workman
The Musketeers tied the game again, this time at the 53-second mark of the final period. Ty Hanson scored his seventh of the season.
The game remained tied for nearly 12 minutes until Croal scored his 21st goal of the campaign. Klee and Justin Solovey drew the assists.
Sioux City pulled goaltender Samuel Urban with 1:05 remaining, but it could not produce a game-tying goal. Urban stopped 24 of 27 shots he faced.
In the Lumberjack goal, Shikhabutkin Gadzhiev earned the victory with a 21-save performance.
David Klee (20) passes the puck to Sacha Boisvert. Photo/Sondra Workman
