USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Season Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion at Home, 3-2

Published on April 21, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan (April 21st) - The Muskegon Lumberjacks would give the home crowd a tight and competitive fight as they would erase an early 2-0 deficit to knot the game up late in the third, which would send the game into overtime. However, the Dubuque Fighting Saints would find a way again to walk away victorious as they would find the game-winner to walk away with a 3-2 road overtime victory to move on to the next round.

After an evenly played first half of the first period, the Fighting Saints, who would win the series 3-0, would get the game's first goal for the third consecutive game on the power play at the 12:10 mark as Peter Quenneville would get his third goal of the series after he slammed a rebound home after a shot from the right point from Shane Sooth was saved by Lumberjacks Goaltender Kevin Lindskoug (0-3). Nikalas Nevalainen would get the secondary helper on the Quenneville tally.

Dubuque would use that goal to create more offense as they would double their lead to 2-0 at the 14:54 mark as Seamus Malone would get his first goal of the playoffs as he fired a screen shot from just outside the right faceoff circle past Lindskoug that was assisted by Eric Freschi and Mike Szmatula. The shots would be even after the first period, 10-10.

No scoring would be had in the second period as the Lumberjacks would almost get their first goal of the night as a dump-in attempt by Connor Hurley would go off of Dubuque Goaltender Arthur Brey's (3-0) stick, but it would hit the goal line and go off the inner half of the post. Dubuque would hold the edge in shots through the first 40 minutes, 21-15.

The score would continue to hold into the second half of the third period when the Lumberjacks, who lost the series 0-3, would finally crack scoreboard at the 12:36 mark as Cullen Hurley would slide a puck from the left faceoff circle through Brey's five-hole to cut the deficit to 2-1 Dubuque. Zach Saar would get the lone assist on Cullen Hurley's first goal of the playoffs.

A few minutes later at the 15:45 mark, Muskegon would get the elusive equalizer at 2-2 as Cameron Darcy would muscle his way in front of the Dubuque goal crease to creep a rebound past Brey for his first goal of the playoffs that was assisted by Connor Hurley. The Lumberjacks would continue the pressure into the final stages of regulation, but the game would go into overtime as Muskegon would outshoot Dubuque 15-4 in the final frame.

In the overtime frame, the teams would tussle back and forth until Dubuque would get the game-winner with 8:48 to go in the extra session as Frankie DiChiara would swat a loose puck in front of the Lumberjacks goal crease past Lindskoug to sweep Muskegon. Freschi and Szmatula would get the helpers on DiChiara's second goal of the playoffs.

The shots would end up even between the two teams at 34-34, while Arthur Brey would stop 32 of 34 shots on the night to get his third win of the playoffs. Kevin Lindskoug would stop 31 of 34 shots in the though home loss for the Lumberjacks. Dubuque's offense would be led by Freschi and Szmatula's two assists, while four different Lumberjacks tallied a point in tonight's game. Dubuque will play Youngstown in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Season ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are still on sale for the low price of $225 for adults and $150 for children ages 3-12 for the 30 home games provided next season. Fans can place their deposits by May 31st to receive a free parking pass good for all home games next season. For more information, fans can visit the Lumberjacks website at www.muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling (231) 724-JACK (5225).

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 www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2013


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