LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Lumberjacks have dealt with a lot of adversity this season that has resulted in some crazy finishes.
The start of the USHL playoffs with Muskegon and Cedar Rapids had the same type of result but the home team found a way to get it done.
The Lumberjacks thought they broke a 1-1 tie with four minutes remaining in regulation, but after review, it was determined that there was goaltending interference.
It was a very unpopular call on the ice, and it looked like Game 1 of the Clark Cup playoffs was destined for a sudden death overtime period.
But the Lumberjacks struck again, this time with just over a minute left in regulation to propel Muskegon to a 2-1 win and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 first round series.
Photo/Sondra Workman
Vaclav Nestrasil scored the game-winner at the 18:52 mark on the Jack Galanek assist. The play went to review but was determined to be a legal goal.
“It has been like this all year, and so you have to keep pushing through,” said Lumberjacks coach Parker Burgess. “We have seen a lot of interesting stuff throughout the year.”
“Our leadership did a great job keeping us focused so we could go out there and get the next one.”
Photo/Sondra Workman
Muskegon will look to complete the sweep of the series Tuesday in Game 2 of the first round series. Faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. from Trinity Health Arena.
“We need to finish the job tomorrow,” Burgess said. “We know they are going to come out hard. They have a lot of character, and they are going to play hard.”
Goaltending was another strong suit for the Jacks as Stephen Peck earned his first ever USHL playoff victory, stopping 27-of-28 shots faced.
“Stephen (Peck) was great,” Burgess said. “Our goaltending has been great all year and he did his part for sure.”
The Lumberjacks opened the scoring off a faceoff win by captain David Klee.
Galanek took the puck and snapped it home at the 15:14 mark of the first period to give Muskegon a 1-0 lead.
The RoughRiders were granted the first power play of the game on a too many men penalty by Muskegon, but Cedar Rapids failed to score and tie the game.
The Lumberjacks led 1-0 while outshooting Cedar Rapids 15-11 during the opening 20 minutes.
Photo/Sondra Workman
Both teams failed to score during the second period.
The RoughRiders had a power play opportunity at the 7:06 mark of the second period but didn’t score.
Cedar Rapids was also given a man advantage late in the second period at the 19:26 mark, giving it a power play to start the third period.
The RoughRiders, who outshot Muskegon 10-5 during the second period, held a 21-20 shots advantage through 40 minutes of action.
Cedar Rapids tied the contest up at the 4:56 mark of the third period on a goal from Amine Hajibi, then were given its fourth straight power play moments later to try to take the lead.
The Lumberjacks killed the Cedar Rapids power play to keep the contest deadlocked near the midway point of the third period.
Muskegon finally received its first power play of the contest at the 12:11 mark of the third period.
The Jacks failed to take advantage of the man advantage, keeping the contest tied with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.
Muskegon earned the win despite getting outshot 32-28 throughout the game.
Photos by Sondra Workman.
