Ralston, NE – The Muskegon Lumberjacks (20-12-1-1, 42 pts.) newest addition Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev (Makhachkala, RUS) continued to impress on Friday night with a 25 save shutout to help them to a 3-0 win over the Omaha Lancers (7-22-3-0, 17 pts.) on the road.
 
The first goal of the game came for the Lumberjacks at the 14:50 mark of the first period. Joe Connor (Amherst, NH) carried the puck into the offensive zone on the far side wall and down towards the bottom of the circle. Connor left the puck for Cody Croal (North Branch, MN) who made a move around a Lancer defenseman before sliding a pass back door to Matvie Gridin (Kurgan, RUS). Gridin was able to score on the open net for his first goal of the game.
 
After a scoreless second period the Lumberjacks were able to add another goal to double their lead just 1:14 into the third. Again, Gridin scored, though this time a nice poke check in the offensive zone shut down the Omaha zone exit. Gridin sent the puck back door to Connor who waited a beat before sending it back in front to Gridin who used his body to redirect the puck to the back of the net. After a video review the goal was confirmed and the Lumberjacks led by two. Gridin's two goals give him 17 this season, and a team leading 39 points.
 
With the net empty at the other side of the ice Jack Galanek (Hopkinton, MA) put the icing on the cake with his 9^th goal of the season to secure the 3-0 win for the Jacks.
 
Gadzhiev (3-2) stopped all 25 shots sent his way to earn his first career USHL shutout and the win on his record. Mikhail Yegorov (3-11-3-0) played well stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced, but earns the loss anyway.
 
The teams close out the weekend series tomorrow night with a 6:05 pm CST puck drop at Liberty First Credit Union Arena. Catch the action on the official live stream partner of the USHL, FloHockey, and for free on the Lumberjacks Hockey Network on Mixlr.