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 Muskegon Lumberjacks

Paulovic and Molino Total Three-Point Nights, Lumberjacks Clip Musketeers

March 7, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Muskegon Lumberjacks and Sioux City Musketeers clashed in the backend of a two-game series at the Tyson Events Center with the Lumberjacks looking to capture three out of a possible four points on the weekend. Ultimately, the visitors accomplished the task courtesy of three-point nights from Matej Paulovic, who netted the game-winner halfway through the third, and Griffen Molino as Muskegon came up victorious by a 4-3 final tonight to push its current unbeaten streak to three in a row while picking up its 11th road victory on the season.

The Lumberjacks (28-17-4, 60 points) came out of the starting gate on a positive note snatching the game's first goal on their first shot of the night at the 5:45 mark as Molino centered a feed below the goal line in the left wing corner boards to an open Paulovic in the low slot, who buried his 12th of the season past the outstretched left pad of Cam Gornet (8-7-1) to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Later in the opening frame with 4:59 remaining, Muskegon doubled its lead to 2-0 taking advantage of their first power play opportunity of the night with Molino feeding Tommy Marchin in the slot, and the Brown commit slid home his 19th of the year through the five-hole of Gornet that was also set up by Paulovic.

Just 43 seconds later, the Musketeers (32-14-5, 69 points) sliced the deficit in half to 2-1 as a shot from the right point by Neal Pionk had eyes through traffic and founds its way top shelf over the glove hand of Eric Schierhorn (20-12-4) for his 6th marker of the season. Jake Montgomery and Max Kalter assisted on the tally.

Muskegon hung on to their one goal lead going into the first intermission break with Sioux City claiming the shot battle early on by a 15-7 margin.

As the game steered into the second half of play, the visiting Lumberjacks regained their two-goal lead at 3-1 with 7:47 to go in the middle frame courtesy of Mark Petaccio burying a rebound goal to the right of Gornet for his seventh as a Lumberjack and 17th overall on the season that was aided by Christian Wolanin.

As the second stanza came to a close, Muskegon remained up by the same two-goal difference with the shots on goal between the two teams being even at eight apiece during the middle 20 minutes of regulation. Sioux City still had the shot advantage overall, 23-15.

Sioux City made a big push before the midway point of the third period hit scoring twice just 15 seconds apart from one another to even the game back up at 3-3 by the 7:46 mark. Beginning at the 7:31 mark, Robert Carpenter buried his team-leading 29th goal of the season while on the man advantage in the low slot off a centering feed from behind the Muskegon net by Joel Janatuinen to make it a 3-2 contest. Joe Snively also helped on the power play goal.

Moments later, Sebastian Repo slipped a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle through traffic and past Schierhorn's left pad for his sixth of the season to tie the game that was aided by Jacob Wilson and Kalter.

Under two minutes later, the Lumberjacks quickly countered to snag its lead back at 4-3 just 1:26 after the Musketeers' third goal of the evening. At the 9:12 mark, Paulovic found a loose rebound in the slot off an initial shot attempt by Molino and potted his second of the night and 13th on the season into the back of the net.

The one shot game eventually held into the waning moments of regulation when the Musketeers pulled Gornet for the extra attacker with just over 50 seconds left but came up empty in regards to netting the game-tying goal. Sioux City outshot Muskegon for the game by a 42-28 margin.

Eric Schierhorn earned his 20th victory of the season for Muskegon following a 39-save effort, while Cam Gornet took the home loss for Sioux City after stopping 24 of 28 shots faced. Matej Paulovic (two goals, one assist) and Griffen Molino (three assists) led Muskegon's offensive attack with three points each. Max Kalter spearheaded Sioux City's offense with a pair of assists. Muskegon was 1-for-3 on the power play, while Sioux City finished 1-for-4. Paulovic extended his current point streak to a new USHL personal best six games. Eric Schierhorn earned his 40th career USHL victory between the pipes while matching his win total from last season. The Lumberjacks improve to 4-3-1 all-time against the Musketeers that includes a 3-2-1 mark at the Tyson Events Center.

The Lumberjacks continue their season-long six-game road swing next weekend with a two-game Illinois trip beginning on Friday, March 13th against the Chicago Steel at 8:30 pm and concluding on Saturday, March 14th against the expansion Bloomington Thunder at 8:00 pm.

Muskegon has three home dates remaining for the 2014-15 regular season beginning with a pair of games against the Des Moines Buccaneers on March 27th and 28th and finishing on April 3rd against the USNTDP Under-17 Team. All three games are slated to begin at 7:15 pm.


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