USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks Grab 3 of 4 Points in Weekend Split with Chicago, Fall in OT at Home

Published on November 30, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


The Muskegon Lumberjacks continued their push to establish footing in the Eastern Conference race with a highly contested matchup against league-leading Chicago on Saturday.

The Lumberjacks fell 4-3 in overtime at home, but picked up another key point against the Steel.

Muskegon defeated the Chicago on Friday and hoped to pick up all four points over the weekend. Three of four will work just fine for the Lumberjacks.

"Absolutely, we'll take 3 out of 4 (points) any time," said a fairly pleased Muskegon Coach Mike Hamilton about his team's play the last two nights against Chicago. "Obviously there's a little bit to learn there at the end. We over pursued the puck a little bit with three minutes left in the game instead of keeping that game shut down. Shutting games down is something that we're going to learn from that kind of mistake."

The Lumberjacks came out flat in the first period, trailing 1-0 after a Owen Power goal for Chicago eight minutes into the contest. Muskegon was outshot 13-5 in the period.

In the second period, Muskegon had a much different look in their step thanks in part to the magical Danil Gushchin. The 5-9 forward put Muskegon on the board barely a minute into the period with an impressive wrist shot that ricocheted off the top left corner post and into the net.

The goal was also a power play goal for Muskegon that continued from the opening 20 minutes from a Josh Doan tripping call against Chicago at the 19:10 mark.

Oliver MacDonald set up the Gushchin goal after stealing the puck at center ice and then finding Gushchin on the left side.

Four minutes later Tanner Kelly gave Muskegon a 2-1 lead off the rebound of a MacDonald shot on Chicago goaltender Ian Shane.

The assist for MacDonald was his second of the game, snapping a four-game streak with no points for Muskegon.

Chicago's Gunnarwolfe Fontaine tied the game 2-2 at the 9:16 mark in the second period which came on a failed penalty kill for Muskegon.

Muskegon rallied early in the third period with another Gushchin goal, barely two minutes in, giving the Lumberjacks a 3-2 lead. The eleventh goal of the season and second of the game for the Russian born forward came after he stole the puck to keep the play inside the blue line and then wristed a shot over the far shoulder of Shane in goal.

The Lumberjacks held their 3-2 lead deep into the third period but Chicago's Sam Colangelo tied the score for the Steel with just over three minutes left to play.

Fontaine won the game for the Steel midway through overtime, sneaking a shot past Muskegon goaltender Jonathan Williams on a breakaway.

Williams played a stellar game for Muskegon between the pipes, stopping 36 Chicago shots as the Lumberjacks were outshot 40-26.

"He (Williams) played last night as well and he was the reason why we won and tonight he kept us in the game and gave us an opportunity to win," said Hamilton about his goal keeper who is now 4-2-1 this season

The Lumberjacks improve to 9-9-2 this season and are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference race with 20 points behind first place Chicago which has 31 points.

Muskegon heads on the road for its next three games and returns back to the L.C. Walker Arena on December 13 when they face Team USA U18 team.

The Jacks will be without Gushchin and Rhett Pitlick through Christmas as the two will be playing in the world juniors tournament.

You can order tickets online through muskegonlumberjacks.com, in person at the L.C. Walker Arena Box Office, or by phone through 231-726-2400.

For season or group ticket packages, call 231-799-7000.

Check out the Muskegon Lumberjacks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central