USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Comeback Falls Short in Dubuque; 4-3 Final Sees Saints Take 2-0 Lead of ECF

Published on April 29, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


DUBUQUE, IA - For the third straight game the Muskegon Lumberjacks found themselves trailing by a pair of goals at the start of the third period. This time though the Jacks were unable to tie the game and force overtime as the Dubuque Fighting Saints picked up the 4-3 win and take a stronghold of the Eastern Conference Finals 2-0.

It was a big first period for the Fighting Saints taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Scoring opened just 2:22 into the game when Erik Pahlsson found the puck below the goal line. Pahlsson sent a pass from behind the net to the slot for Juraj Pekarick cutting down the middle of the ice. Pekarcik was able to tap the pass past the goal line for his second goal of the season.

A pair of penalties sent the teams to 4-on-4 play six minutes later. Dubuque was able to score not once, but twice in the two minute period to take a 3-0 lead. First, it was Pahlsson picking up his second point of the first period by scoring on a backhand from the low slot. Then, Jayden Jubenvill who scored the overtime winner the night before scored his third goal of the post season as a trailer on a Dubuque zone entry just :29 seconds later.

Dubuque opened the scoring early in the second period to make it 4-0. Just 1:27 into the frame. Noah Powell was left alone in front with the ability to take multiple whacks at the puck. His second chance found the back of the net.

Not often do you see a shorthanded unit create opportunities in the offensive zone, but as Cody Croal (North Branch, MN) and Joe Connor (Amherst, NH) went to work while shorthanded the momentum began to turn in favor of the Jacks. Just moments after returning to even strength the Jacks got on the board with their first goal of the game. Connor got the puck in the near side corner and watched as Bauer Berry (Grand Forks, ND) dropped from the blue line to the top of the blue paint. Connor slid him the puck and Berry forced it to the back of the net at the 6:53 marl of the second. The Jacks added another goal nine minutes later on another gritty play. Ethan Whitcomb (St. Catherines, ON) caused a turnover deep in the Dubuque zone and sent a pass from the near side corner to the slot for David Klee (Castle Rock, CO). Klee corralled the pass and ripped a shot to the back of the net to bring the Jacks back to within a pair heading to the third period.

Looking to continue the comeback in the third period the Jacks found the back of the net at the 7:20 mark. Connor took the puck away from a Dubuque player in the Muskegon zone and fired a pass across the ice to Easton Young (Grand Rapids, MN) in the neutral zone. Young skated down the wall to the offensive zone and cut below the circle towards the net. As he made his way to the backdoor the puck ricocheted off a Dubuque player and into the net to bring the Jacks within a single goal.

Momentum stayed pretty even throughout the remainder of the game, and a late interference penalty hindered the Jacks ability to tie the game and force overtime.

With the loss the Jacks are pushed to the brink of elimination, and need to win 3-of-3 to move on to the Clark Cup Finals.

Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. at Trinity Health Arena. Tickets can be purchased for just $10 at muskegonlumberjacks.com. Can't make it to the game? Don't worry! Catch the action on the official live stream partner of the USHL, FloHockey, and for free on the Lumberjacks Hockey Network on mixlr.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2024


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