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Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Log: Week 7

November 17, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. (November 17, 2011) - The Muskegon Lumberjacks left for Youngstown last Thursday on the definite upswing, having won three of their last four.

Returning from Indiana Saturday night after a pair of road victories, their upswing had been upgraded to a legitimate surge.

Now with a record of 5-1-0 over the last three weeks, the Jacks (6-6-0, 12 points) come back to L.C. Walker Arena, where they first started to turn the season around with a three-game winning streak Oct. 29-Nov. 4. Muskegon hosts the Tri-City Storm Friday night and the rival Green Bay Gamblers Saturday.

After dropping a 2-1 decision to Cedar Rapids to complete their previous homestand, the Lumberjacks claimed two consecutive one-goal games at Eastern Conference rivals Youngstown and Indiana to reach .500 for the first time. In both contests, the opponent rallied to tie in the third period before first-year forward Joe Cox twice put Muskegon back on top to stay.

"We've discussed how we have to play the full 60, or 65 minutes if necessary," Jacks Head Coach/GM Kevin Patrick said. "If we work our plan and stay consistent no matter what happens, at the end of the night we'll have success more often than not."

In addition to showing poise in close-and-late situations, the Lumberjacks have been remarkably effective killing penalties in recent games and last weekend was no exception. Muskegon's PK unit was a perfect 9-for-9 and has allowed only one goal in the last 31 opportunities against.

"We often say that if we can win the special teams battle, we'll put ourselves in a great position to win," Patrick said. "The penalty killing has provided a great spark and energy for us in the last six games."

The two clubs traveling to Muskegon this weekend are at opposite ends of the momentum spectrum, with the Storm (3-10-0, 6 points) having lost seven in a row and the Gamblers (10-3-0, 20 points) on top of the East as usual after winning five of six.

Muskegon and Green Bay combined for a stunning 169 penalty minutes in a preseason meeting Sept. 24, so the mood figures to be intense Saturday, but coach Patrick assured that his squad will not come close to overlooking Tri-City.

"This league is so tight that the difference between a win and a loss could be one mistake," said Patrick. "If you take a team for granted because they're in a slide right now, you'll look up at the end of 20 minutes and see you're playing from behind."

The puck drops Friday between the Jacks and Storm at 7:15 p.m., with the Meijer Pregame Show starting approximately 30 minutes prior on the radio home of your Lumberjacks, 92.5 FM The Outlaw. Muskegon and Green Bay square off at the same time Saturday.

JACKS FACTS

While Cox was the offensive star for Muskegon last weekend, his partnership with linemates Jordan Masters and Travis Belohrad has been dynamic for weeks now. Masters is riding a five-game point streak, a season-best for the Lumberjacks so far, and Belohrad has points in three of his last five. The Lumberjacks allowed 10 power play goals in their first six games, after which their penalty kill ranked last in the 16-team USHL with a 67.8 percent success rate. Since then they've been at an incredible 96.8 percent, boosting their season mark to 82.3 percent, ninth-best in the league. Belohrad (2 G) and current UMass-Lowell Riverhawk Mike Conderman were the only Jacks to light the lamp in two games vs. Tri-City last season. Muskegon managed a point Jan. 11 in Kearney, Neb., as the Storm prevailed 4-3 in a shootout. Goalie Paul Berrafato stopped 34 shots and two shootout attempts in the game. Muskegon won one of four matchups with last year's powerful Green Bay outfit, including an eight-goal bonanza at L.C. Walker Jan. 16. Ryan Misiak, now at Mercyhurst, accumulated six points in the season series, but returners Belohrad and Masters combined for five goals against Gamblers' goalies.

SCOUTING REPORT:

CHASING THE STORM

After topping Sioux City 7-3 Oct. 22 to improve to 3-3-0 on the season, the Storm have plummeted to the bottom of the Western Conference. In three losses last weekend, Tri-City allowed nine third-period goals; the team has given up a league-high 23 tallies in the final frame this autumn. Third-year USHLer (and second-year member of the Storm) Nick Lappin has been superb to start the season, netting 10 goals already to place him second to Lincoln's Kevin Roy; the Illinois native scored nine goals all last year. Kenny Brooks, also in his third league campaign, is second on Tri-City with 11 points and is one of only three on the team with a plus rating (+4) Among returners, Brooks and Soren Jonzzon each contributed two points to the Storm's cause against the Lumberjacks in 2010-11. Tri-City won 4-2 in Muskegon last Dec. 17 and scored a shootout win at Viaero Event Center one month later.

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS

The Gamblers, traditionally one of the USHL's top franchises, have put together quite the résumé through 13 games. On top of having the circuit's best overall record, they have scored the most goals (49), allowed the second-fewest (31) and have posted a 7-1-0 mark away from the Green Bay's Resch Center, also tops in the USHL. The duo of Nolan LaPorte and Ryan Novak are tied for eighth on the league's scoring list with 13 points apiece, and four Gamblers' defenseman are in the loop's top 15 blueline scorers, led by Markus Lauridsen's 10 points. Goalie Ryan McKay, who helped Green Bay to the Anderson and Clark Cup titles in 2010, has the USHL's best goals-against average (1.60) and save percentage (.939). Green Bay took six of a possible eight standings points in last season's series vs. Muskegon, averaging five goals per contest. Lauridsen was the leading scorer among active USHLers with three points and a plus-7 rating. Forward Sam Herr deposited two goals against the Jacks.

UPCOMING ACTION

Friday, November 18 vs. TRI-CITY at 7:15 p.m. - $1 Beer/$1 Hot Dog Night presented by John Morrell (While supplies last; prices applicable from 6-8 p.m.)

Saturday, November 19 vs. GREEN BAY at 7:15 p.m. - Donate 3 non-perishable items to Cans From Fans food drive and get a free ticket to Dec. 18 game! Offer stands all weekend.

Friday, November 25 @ Green Bay at 8:05 p.m.

Saturday, November 26 @ Chicago at 8:00 p.m.

FOLLOW THE JACKS ALL SEASON

92.5 FM The Outlaw is the exclusive radio home of your Muskegon Lumberjacks! Listen over the air or check out the action streaming online at 925fmtheoutlaw.com as Voice of the Jacks Matt Gajtka has the play-by-play. The USHL is also partnering with FASTHockey to provide video coverage of all league games this season; go to ushl.fasthockey.com to sign up and watch!

TALKIN' LUMBERJACKS HOCKEY

JackSixty presented by Cinema Carousel is a weekly hour-long talk show devoted to your Muskegon Lumberjacks every Tuesday night from 6-7 p.m. at Hennessy's Irish Pub & Restaurant. Located at the corner of Jefferson and Clay Streets in the heart of Muskegon, Hennessy's plays host as Gajtka talks hockey with head coach Kevin Patrick, various players and other featured guests on 98.3 FM WLCS!

THE SOCIAL NETWORKS

Never go hungry for Jacks news: "Like" the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Facebook and follow "@MuskegonJacks" on Twitter to stay plugged into the Jacks 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, find the Jacks' exclusive YouTube channel at youtube.com/MuskegonJacks!

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