USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Jacks Outgunned by Des Moines

Published on January 13, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Muskegon Lumberjacks never could push ahead in an entertaining battle with the Des Moines Buccaneers at L.C. Walker Arena, as the visitors claimed a 5-3 decision Friday night.

In Dave Noel-Bernier's first game as Lumberjacks interim Head Coach, Muskegon rallied to tie Des Moines twice, but the Buccaneers opened a two-goal lead early in the third and preserved the victory despite Matt DeBlouw's tally that brought the Jacks within 4-3 late.

Jacks leading scorer John Padulo netted a shorthanded goal for the second time in three games, but the Bucs scored two of their own in the second period to carry a 3-2 lead into the final frame. It was the first time this season Muskegon allowed two shorthanded goals in the same game.

With the win Des Moines (12-13-3, 27 points) broke a four-game winless streak while extending Muskegon's current run to 0-4-1 since the USHL's winter break. The Jacks (9-15-2, 20 points) will look for their first win of 2012 Saturday night when league-leading Green Bay pays a visit to L.C. Walker Arena for the second time.

The Jacks tied a season-best with 36 shots, forcing Jason Kasdorf to work hard for his ninth win in the Des Moines net. The Buccaneers' 47 shots, 22 of which came in the second period, set a new season-high for the Lumberjacks opponent, but Muskegon goalie John Keeney once again thrived under a heavy workload, stopping 40-plus shots for the fifth time in seven starts.

With Kevin Patrick relieved of his coaching duties earlier Friday, former Muskegon Fury forward Noel-Bernier manned the Lumberjacks bench for the first time. New Head Coach Jim McKenzie, a veteran of 880 NHL games and Stanley Cup winner in 2003, will join the team Sunday.

In addition, Swedish defenseman Rasmus Bengtsson made his Muskegon debut. The second-round pick of the Florida Panthers in last June's NHL Draft is on loan to the Jacks from pro club Rogle BK in his native Sweden.

Trent Samuels-Thomas converted Branislav Rapac's pass from behind the net to put Des Moines ahead 1-0 just 3:45 into the game, but Muskegon had a quick answer when defenseman Christian Pomarico blasted the equalizer past Kasdorf four minutes later. It was the first USHL point for the Connecticut native and U.S. Military Academy recruit.

Early in the second Muskegon got its first power play, only to watch Des Moines snatch the lead back when Anthony Greco ripped his 10th of the season under Keeney to finish a breakaway. The go-ahead marker was Greco's third shorthanded goal and it came at 2:53.

The Lumberjacks returned fire at 7:31 while shorthanded themselves. Ryan Lomberg, returning after missing four games due to injury, fired a low shot off the right leg of Kasdorf that Padulo stashed on the rebound for his ninth of the year, tying him with Dakota Klecha for the team lead.

Improbably, the Bucs' Gaspar Kopitar finished the breakneck period with yet another shorthanded marker, his team-leading 11th, with about four minutes left before the second intermission. The younger brother of the Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar wacked a loose puck inside the right post to push Des Moines up 3-2.

Rapac finished the rebound of Samuels-Thomas' point-blank shot 7 1/2 minutes into the third, only to see DeBlouw end a 14-game goalless drought with a second-chance goal of his own at 9:30. Padulo and Joe Cox earned assists on the hard-working goal.

Samuels-Thomas capped off the game and a three-point night in the final minute when he found the empty net.

Muskegon entertains Green Bay Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. Donate a pair of used ice skates and enter to win a 12-person suite for the Red Wings Alumni Game Feb. 11! Call the L.C. Walker Arena box office at 231.724.JACK(5225) for Lumberjacks tickets and information, or visit startickets.com or go to your local Meijer.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks' organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit muskegonlumberjacks.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2012


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