Jacks Win 5th Straight with 6-3 Final over 17's
February 18, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
PLYMOUTH, MI - The Lumberjacks have hit their stride as of late, and continue to impress with their fifth straight win, and remain perfect in the month of February thanks to a 6-3 win on Sunday afternoon over the USNTDP Under-17 team.
With just 17 seconds left in the first period the Lumberjacks won an offensive zone face off off the stick off Cooper Pierson (Zionsville, IN). The puck went to Jake Toll (Rosemount, MN) at the blue line who fired a shot towards the net looking for some late period magic. You could make the case that Wilson Dahlheimer (Big Lake, MN) is a magician because as he fell to the ice on the far side of the crease he found a way to slide the puck back towards the net and across the goal line with just 9.9 seconds until the first intermission.
Muskegon extended the lead early in the second period with a power play goal just 1:44 into the frame. Easton Young (Grand Rapids, MN) slid the puck to the far side circle for Sacha Boisvert (Trois-Rivieres, QC, CAN) but a broken stick on the shot resulted in the shot trickling down the wall to Matvei Gridin (Kurgan, RUS.). As if it was the play that they were looking for Gridin took the puck up around the outside of the circle and moved towards the slot before ripping a shot to the back of the net for his 22nd goal of the season.
Moments later the Program scored two straight to tie the game back up 2-2. First, at the 4:41 mark Jack Murtagh scored his first goal of the game with assists from Will Moore and Carter Amico. Then, Conrad Fondrk found the back of the net on a powerplay at the 7:38 mark.
It wasn't long before the Jacks regained their lead. Ty Henricks (Mission Viejo, CA) carried the puck into the offensive zone up the middle of the ice before sliding a pass between a defenseman's legs to Justin Solovey (Holmdel, NJ) at the front of the crease. Solovey lifted a one-timer over the goalies shoulder for his 15th goal of the season.
Murtagh struck again for his second goal of the game to tie the score 3-3 at the 9:33 mark again off an assist from Moore. Despite quality opportunities on both ends of the ice the score remained deadlocked heading to the final period.
Looking for their fifth straight win the Lumberjacks offense came out on fire in the third period to score three goals for the 6-3 final. Henricks scored his second of the game while on a power play at the 2:41 mark of the period, while Gridin did the same half way through the frame at the 10:55 mark.
Ethan Whitcomb (St. Catherines, ON, CAN) put the finishing touches on the game with a goal at the 13:01 mark. Another power play goal, and the third point of the game for Gridin who picked up the assist.
Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev (Makhachkala, RUS) (8-4-0-0) earned the win by making 28 saves on 31 shots against. He has now one each of his last 5 starts. Patrick Quinlan played the first half for the 17's stopping 11 of the 14 shots he faced before turning the crease over to Joey Slavick (1-5-0-0) who made 14 save son 17 shots while earning the loss on his record.
The Jacks travel to Green Bay next week for a three game series at the Resch Center against the Gamblers. The games can be found on the official live stream partner of the USHL, FloHockey, and for free on the Lumberjacks Hockey Network on Mixlr.
For schedules, scores, updates, and more visit muskegonlumberjacks.com. Check out the Jacks on social media @muskegonjacks on Instagram and X, @muskegonlumberjacks on tiktok for special content!
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