LocalSportsJournal.com
CEDAR RAPIDS – Chase Stefanek netted two goals on Saturday night to help propel the Muskegon Lumberjacks to their third win in a row.
The Jacks broke a 2-2 third period tie, scoring the final two goals to defeat the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 4-2 at the ImOn Ice Arena in Iowa.
Muskegon is now 7-3-3 on the season, good for 17 points and third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference standings. The Lumberjacks will return home on Friday to play the Omaha Lancers in the first of a two-game weekend series at Trinity Health Arena.
Stefanek opened the scoring with his third goal of the season at the 5:32 mark of the first period to give Muskegon a 1-0 lead. The Lumberjacks increased their lead to 2-0 with Ryan Aaronson’s first goal of the season 13:14 into the period.
Muskegon led 2-0 through the first period.
The RoughRiders tied the contest, scoring the only two goals of the second period from Kole Hyles at the 5:45 mark and Charles Blanchard at 15:07.
The Jacks regained their advantage on a power-play goal from Jack Galanek at the 15:19 mark of the third period.
Stefanek closed out the scoring with four seconds remaining in the contest with an empty net goal.
The Lumberjacks outshot Cedar Rapids 26-24. Lumberjack goaltender Stephen Peck earned his third win of the season, stopping 22-of-24 shots.
Muskegon went 2-for-4 on its power play while killing off the RoughRiders lone man advantage.
