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USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Jacks Pull Away from Dubuque in Third, Win Game One 4-0

April 20, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI- The Muskegon Lumberjacks used three third-period goals to pull away from the Dubuque Fighting Saints in game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, winning 4-0 and taking a 1-0 series lead. Brandon Bussi made 19 saves, earning his eighth shutout of the year, and first since January 25th.

Muskegon jumped out to an early lead, getting a power-play goal from captain Nolan Sullivan with 13:22 remaining in the opening period.

In the second, neither team scored despite 20 shots fired by the Jacks. Dubuque goaltender Matthew Thiessen was outstanding in the period, making several remarkable saves, highlighted by a glove save on an Egor Afanasyev attempt.

Thiessen was able to keep his team afloat for two periods, but in the third, Muskegon's Max Ellis scored a man-advantage goal less than two minutes into the frame, opening the floodgates.

With 9:38 left in the third, Mikael Hakkarainen redirected Bobby Lynch's pass past Thiessen, and rookie Jack Williams would cap off the scoring with 7:52 to play, making the final score 4-0.

Head coach Mike Hamilton emphasized special teams in practice this week and it paid off- Muskegon was a perfect 4/4 on the penalty kill and struck twice on the power play.

"The guys executed the game plan," said Hamilton. "We created 2 on 1 situations that we capitalized on, and generated another few chances that we barely missed on. It was a good team effort"

Lynch would finish with three assists, while Sullivan pitched in a goal and an assist.

Dubuque and Muskegon met four times in the regular season, and all four games were decided by one goal. Tonight, however, was a different story.

"Ultimately it was just the guys playing the game the right way, playing tough," said Hamilton. "You see Egor [Afanasyev] get hurt and he missed just one shift before he's back in. That's the kind of grit we need to play with."

Muskegon outshot Dubuque 38-19, including a 20-4 margin in the second.

Game two is Sunday at LC Walker Arena, with puck drop slated for 5:15pm. Muskegon will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, and hope to eventually level the all-time playoff series with Dubuque at two series wins apiece.

Muskegon goals: Sullivan (1), Ellis (1), Hakkarainen (1), Williams (1)

Muskegon assists: Lynch (1,2,3), Sullivan (1), Colby Bukes (1), Alex Yakovenko (1)

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