USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Luck Not on Muskegon's Side at Home

Published on April 7, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Muskegon Lumberjacks came just short of giving their supporters a win to savor on Fan Appreciation Night, as the Dubuque Fighting Saints squeezed out of L.C. Walker Arena with a 3-2 win Saturday.

Ryan Bullock and Mark Yanis each hit the right post in the waning moments of the third period with the Lumberjacks down by a goal, helping the Saints hang on for their fifth win in a row. Muskegon (17-34-7, 41 points) has dropped five straight in regulation for the first time this season.

Tyler Heinonen and Jon Padulo gave the crowd of more than 2,500 something to cheer about, as they each scored a goal for the second straight game. Padulo's tally with 4:15 gone in the third cut Dubuque's lead to one, setting up an exciting conclusion.

Defenseman Mike Matheson had netted a shorthanded goal 2 1/2 minutes into the final frame that put the Saints (35-19-4, 74 points) in command with a 3-1 advantage. Fellow NHL Draft prospect Zemgus Girgensons assisted on Matheson's goal and also deposited one of his own to open the scoring in the second period.

Jacks goalie John Keeney stopped 31 of 34 Dubuque shots in his first game after securing a scholarship to Alaska Fairbanks, but the Saints' Matt Morris did him one better in turning away 25.

The home schedule is over for the Lumberjacks but they still have two games remaining in their second USHL season. Muskegon will take on Cedar Rapids and Dubuque on the road next Friday and Saturday, respectively.

The defending league champion Fighting Saints improved to 5-0-0 against the Lumberjacks this season with Saturday's victory in Muskegon. Dubuque had a great opportunity to get an early lead but the Jacks killed a long two-man advantage to escape the first period scoreless.

Joe Cox had the best offensive chance for Muskegon in the early going, and it came with the Jacks shorthanded. Ryan Lomberg hopped on a loose puck in the right corner and centered to the wide open Cox in the slot, who deked Morris to the ice but was stymied by Dubuque's Jono Davis' desperation swat that kept the puck out.

Girgensons deflected his team-leading 22nd goal of the season past Keeney 2:24 into the second. Tyler Amburgey hammered a slap shot that was headed wide to the left before the Latvian center tipped it home.

Lomberg netted three points Friday night in Green Bay and he added one more about five minutes after Girgensons broke the ice. Lomberg's drop pass on a Muskegon counterattack found Heinonen, who gunned a perfect shot over Morris' glove from 30 feet away, the Michigan Tech recruit's 18th of the year.

Dubuque had seven power plays on the night, and Tyler Lundey one-timed Shane Sooth's centering pass for a 2-1 Fighting Saints' lead on their fifth chance. The goal at 11:44 was scored during a delayed penalty situation against Muskegon, giving Dubuque a sixth attacker.

The Lumberjacks got a pair of power plays back-to-back to start the third, but the Saints scored the only goal of the sequence when Girgensons led a shorthanded rush and fed Matheson at the left dot for his 10th of the season from the blueline.

But Muskegon did not fade after falling behind by two. Heinonen pushed the puck to the point where Bullock blasted a heavy drive that Morris kicked directly to Padulo for his 14th. Heinonen's assist gave him four points over the weekend and 30 on the season.

Bullock nearly recorded goal No. 10 during Muskegon's fourth and final power play midway through the third, but his slapper drilled the post after sailing over Morris' glove. Yanis, normally a defenseman but playing up front for the night, also drew iron soon after Bullock did when he poked a rebound that nearly tied the score.

The Jacks were forced to pull Keeney for an extra attacker in the final 1 1/2 minutes, but the tying tally was not to be. Muskegon finished the home schedule 12-16-2 in its second USHL season.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2012


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