Bongiovanni Nets Late Winner, Jacks Escape Aces 5-4

March 10, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release

BLOOMINGTON, IL- The Muskegon Lumberjacks surrendered a two-goal lead in the third period, but Wyatt Bongiovanni scored with 5:59 left to push Muskegon to a 5-4 win over the Central Illinois Flying Aces Friday at Grossinger Motors Arena.

Muskegon led 4-2 going into the third, but Central Illinois forward Alex Barber scored twice to level the score at four before Bongiovanni netted the game-winner on a deflection between the hash marks.

Muskegon has now won three in a row and ten straight over Central Illinois.

Muskegon jumped out to a 2-0 lead within seven minutes, scoring two power-play goals within three minutes of one another. Jachym Kondelik notched his 10th of the year right before Emilio Pettersen registered his 11th to push Muskegon out front by two.

Central Illinois got on the board late in the first period when Jeremy Davidson scored a power-play goal with only :25.8 remaining in the first.

The scoring wasn't done though, as Anthony Del Gaizo restored the two goal Muskegon lead with :8.7 left. Del Gaizo's shot hit the post, then the back of goaltender Ryan Snowden, and then trickled across the goal line. Anthony's 34th of the season put Muskegon up 3-1 after the first.

In the second, both goals scored came within nine seconds of one another. First, Brady Meyer scored his first USHL goal to narrow the Jacks' lead to one, but Matej Pekar answered back with his 11th of the year only nine seconds later to put Muskegon up 4-2 after two.

Keegan Karki made 20 saves to earn the win for Muskegon, improving his record to 19-12-0 on the season.

The Jacks got some help from Lincoln, who knocked off Dubuque. With the Saints' loss and Green Bay being idle, Muskegon leapfrogs into third place in the East.

The Jacks will have an opportunity to push their win streak to four games tomorrow night when they rematch Central Illinois at 8:07pm. The game will be carried live on 92.5 Nash Icon and HockeyTV.com.

Muskegon goals: Kondelik (10), Pettersen (11), A. Del Gaizo (34), Pekar (11), Bongiovanni (14)

Muskegon assists: Bongiovanni (15), Pettersen (26), Alex Yakovenko (8), Bray Crowder (10), Mikael Hakkarainen (22,23), Matt Staudacher (4), Colby Bukes (17), Vincent de Mey (10)

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