NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Muskegon Lumberjacks

Chicago Stuns Muskegon with Overtime Win in Game One

April 27, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI - The Chicago Steel scored with 2.9 seconds remaining to force overtime, then scored 5:16 into the extra period, winning game one of the Eastern Conference Finals 5-4 over the Muskegon Lumberjacks in dramatic fashion.

Muskegon held leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2, but Chicago scored the final three goals of the game to steal game one from the Jacks.

Mikael Hakkarinen opened the scoring with a pair of 5-on-3 goals in the first period, both set up by Bobby Lynch and Alex Yakovenko. Muskegon took the 2-0 lead into period two, but it didn't last long.

1:06 into the second, Chicago got on the board when Gunnarwolfe Fontaine batted a puck out of midair and past goaltender Brandon Bussi to cut the lead to one.

With 12:57 to play in the second, Egor Afanasyev deked his way through three Chicago defenders before finding Jagger Joshua on the back door. Joshua's one-timer went off the post and in, extending the Jacks' lead to 3-1. However, Chicago's Josiah Slavin answered in a hurry, scoring 41 seconds later to make it 3-2 Muskegon.

In the third period, Muskegon would regain a two-goal advantage when Bobby Lynch's shot from the corner ricocheted past Steel goalie Justin Robbins, and with 17:19 to play in regulation, it was 4-2.

But Chicago again answered in speedy fashion, getting a Nick Abruzzese goal 12 seconds later.

The game would remain at 4-3 for the next 17 minutes, until Slavin accepted a fine pass from Fontaine, ripping it past Bussi to send the game to overtime just 2.9 seconds before the clock expired. The goal came in 6-on-4 fashion, with Chicago on the power play and Robbins on the bench.

In overtime, Abruzzese scored his second of the night on a left-circle wrist shot, capturing game one for the visitors.

Muskegon outshot Chicago 40-34, and have now outshot their opponent in every game this postseason. The Jacks held the advantage on the power play, scoring three times in five chances while killing two of three Chicago power plays.

Game two of the best-of-five series is tomorrow (Sunday) at 5:15pm at LC Walker Arena.

Muskegon goals: Hakkarainen (2,3), Joshua (2), Lynch (2)

Muskegon assists: Lynch (6,7), Yakovenko (4,5,6), Afanasyev (2)

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...

United States Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central