Jacks Sweep Chicago 7-0 with 4-1 Season Finale Victory
April 14, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
GENEVA, IL - With a first round bye on the line the Muskegon Lumberjacks (38-22-1-1, 78 pts.) took to the ice on Saturday night against the Chicago Steel (27-28-3-4, 61 pts.) for the regular season finale. Taking the lead in the first period the Jacks controlled the whole game all the way to the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference and a first round bye in the playoffs.
Just like last night the Jacks took a 1-0 lead in the first period by way of a power play goal. Justin Solovey (Holmdel, NJ) sent a pass to the near side for Ty Henricks (Mission Viejo, CA). Without waiting long Henricks took the pass and sent a shot pass towards the front of the net for David Klee (Castle Rock, CO). The puck went off Klee's skate and into the back of the net to give the Jacks a 1-0 lead at the 12:30 mark.
It didn't take long for the Jacks to extend their lead in the second period. Just :21 seconds into the middle stanza Solovey found himself on a 2-on-1 rush into the offensive zone with Sacha Boisvert (Trois-Rivieres, QC, CAN). Solovey carried the puck to the offensive zone and slid a pass to Boisvert on the far side of the slot. Boisvert waited a beat and sent the pass back to the near side and Solovey to one-time to the back of the net.
Only :20 seconds later the Steel brought the score back to within one with a goal from Anthony Cardilli after Lukas Sawchyn sent him a pass from below the goal line. Cardilli was alone in the slot as he ripped a shot to the back of the cage for his 4th of the season.
Fresh off killing a penalty Gridin spread the defense through the neutral zone as Klee worked with Miles Gust (Chicago, IL) to get the puck to Gridin behind all of the Steel players. Gridin rang a shot off the far post to make it 3-0 with just :08 seconds until the second intermission.
Teddy Spitznagel (New York, NY) scored the only goal of the third period finishing off a pretty play set up by Henricks. The New York Rangers draft pick took the puck on the near side of the ice and slid it to the front of the net for Spitznagel. The goalie made the first move allowing Spitznagel an open shot to the top of the net.
As the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference the Lumberjacks will take on the winner of the #3/#6 series between Green Bay and Chicago. The second round starts on Saturday, April 20th. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Trinity Health Arena.
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