Three Straight Goals Lift Lumberjacks to 3-2 Win over Lincoln on Throwback Night
Published on February 2, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI - Donning special Muskegon Mohawk themed jerseys, the Saturday night game at the formerly named L.C. Walker Arena (Trinity Health Arena) had an old school feel as the Lumberjacks (22-13-1-1, 46 pts.) picked up a come from behind victory over the visiting Lincoln Stars (14-19-0-2, 30 pts.) in front of a near capacity crowd.
There were more story lines than one could count heading into this game. The 100th career USHL game for Lumberjacks forward David Klee (Castle Rock, CO), the first matchup against his former team for former Star Patrick Raftery (Centennial, CO), and the first matchup in the USHL career between Ty Henricks (Mission Viejo, CA) and his younger brother Tanner. Even the front office had some skin in the game with Jack's General Manager Jim McGroarty a former head coach of the Stars. Paired with a packed arena for Throwback night, and jerseys from the 1960's Saturday night's matchup was bound to provide excitement.
Lincoln controlled the majority of the opportunities in the first period, and used their advantage to carry a 2-0 lead back into the locker room for the first intermission. Jack Pechar opened the scoring at the 12:32 mark of the opening period by finishing a 2-on-1 rush set up by Dashel Oliver. Four minutes later Oliver found the back of the net for a goal of his own after finding a rebound loose in the slot and depositing it to the back of the Lumberjacks net.
The second period started similar to the first with some opportunities for both teams, but things changed five minutes into the frame when Bauer Berry (Grand Forks, ND) dropped the gloves with Oliver. In a post game interview in front of the fans Berry said "He asked me to drop them so I blacked out and said yes lets go." For the Lumberjacks Berry's first career fight in the USHL couldn't have come at a better time as it built enough momentum to kick start a comeback effort.
The first goal in the comeback came less than three minutes after the fight at the 7:43 mark when the Jacks found themselves on a 4-on-3 power play. From the near side of the zone Ethan Whitcomb (St. Catherines, ON, CAN) slid the puck up to the blue line for Easton Young (Grand Rapids, MN) who then continued it to the far side for Sacha Boisvert (Trois-Rivieres, QC, CAN). The Lumberjacks leading goal scorer held the puck for a moment on inside the far circle before firing a shot tucked between the post and the pad for his 20th goal of the season.
Boisvert struck again with another power play goal at the 16:46 mark this time with a one-timer. Whitcomb sent the puck to the top of the nearside circle for Matvei Gridin (Kurgan, RUS). With a little bit of space Gridin moved towards the net attracting attention from the Lincoln penalty killers and opening space for Boisvert on the far side. Gridin moved the puck to Boisvert who didn't get everything on the shot which caught the netminder off guard. The puck trickled past the goal line tying the game back up at 2-2.
Entering Saturday's game the Lumberjacks were 17-0 this season when taking a lead into the second intermission, and with just :50 seconds to play until the break Gridin made sure to give the Jacks a chance to extend that streak. Boisvert had an opportunity in the slot that was followed up by one for Joe Connor (Amherst, NH). After a couple of blocked shots, the puck went to Gridin on the nearside wall and he carried it down to the corner and across the goal line. As if he had done it 1000 times Gridin chipped the puck from below the goal line off the back of the goalie's mask and into the net to give the Lumberjacks a 3-2 lead heading into the locker room.
From there the Lumberjacks took care of business in the third period and shut down the Lincoln attack to clinch the win. For Beau Lane (Pembroke, MA) (4-1) it took 33 saves on 35 shots to make a return to the win column for the 4th time this season. Yan Shostak (11-11-0-1) earned the loss on his record turning aside 17 of the Lumberjacks 20 shots on net.
Tomorrow, Sunday January 28th the teams close out the weekend with a special 3 p.m. puck drop at Trinity Health Arena. It is Sensory Friendly Day featuring an altered game presentation to allow those who normally cannot attend hockey games to experience a Lumberjacks game. For tickets visit muskegonlumberjacks.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office inside the VanDyke Mortgage Convention Center starting at 12 o'clock noon on game day.
Follow the Jacks on social media @muskegonjacks on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and @muskegonlumberjacks on Tik Tok for new content every week!
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