Jacks Kick off Homestand with 6-5 Shootout Win Over Lancers
Published on November 17, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
Muskegon, Mich. - While it didn't come easily, the Muskegon Lumberjacks picked up both points with a 6-5 shootout victory over the Omaha Lancers at the L.C. Walker Arena on Wednesday morning.
With the victory, the Jacks (6-5-3, 15 points) claimed sole possession of third place in the Eastern Conference. The thousands of children in attendance got to see a thriller on Education Day, as the Jacks couldn't hold down a late lead in regulation, but responded with a rallying win in the shootout.
Ryan Misiak scored in the fourth round of the shootout to even the score at 1-1, and Travis Walsh scored in the last half of the fifth round to deliver the victory.
But that was just part of both skaters' big days. Misiak had three assists, building his league-leading total to 21. Walsh scored the first goal of his United States Hockey League career to give the Jacks a 3-2 lead in the second period.
Walsh's goal gave the Jacks back the lead after two straight Omaha goals that locked the score at 2-2. Omaha got even again on a Ben Marshall goal 2:03 into the third, but Casey Thrush capped a tic-tac-toe sequence off helpers by Jacks captain John Parker and Mike Conderman to give Muskegon a 4-3 lead. Matt Berry, the reigning CCM Offensive Player of the Week, made it 5-3 on a ripper from the left wing just 34 seconds after Thrush's goal.
But Ryan Daugherty and Justin Crandall both scored in the last 3 minutes to force overtime. After a scoreless 5-minute extra session, Ken Babinski gave Omaha a 1-0 lead in the first half of the shootout before Misiak drew things even in the fourth. When Walsh scored the skateoff shootout goal, he was mobbed at the Jacks' offensive blue line. Paul Berrafato stopped four of five shooters in the shootout to pick up the win, his first in the USHL. He made 20 saves on 25 shots through overtime.
The Jacks built a 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Travis Belohrad and Conderman that came just 11 seconds apart in the closing minutes of the period.
Muskegon will continue its longest homestand of the season when the Dubuque Fighting Saints visit on Friday. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. for Comedy Night and the arena doors open at 6:15.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2010
- Oshie & Vanek on Ballot for NHL All-Star Game - Sioux Falls Stampede
- National Team Development Program Weekly - U.S. National Team
- Musketeers Update - Sioux City Musketeers
- Fighting Saints Get Set to Hit the Road - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Jacks Kick off Homestand with 6-5 Shootout Win Over Lancers - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Omaha's Comeback Falls Just Short in 6-5 Shootout Loss - Omaha Lancers
- Lancers Forward Miller Commits to RPI - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Can't Stop Red-Hot Stars Attack - Tri-City Storm
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