YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Trailing 4-1 at the start of the third period is not how the Muskegon Lumberjacks (30-17-1-1, 62 pts.) envisioned Friday night's game against the Youngstown Phantoms (26-15-4-4, 60 pts.) going. Despite the large deficit the Jacks climbed all the way back with 4 third period goals to force overtime and win the game 6-5 in a shootout.
Youngstown took an early lead just over a minute in when Nathan Lewis slid the puck between the legs of
Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev (Makhachkala, RUS) for his first goal of the season. Lewis was injured during a preseason game in Muskegon and made his season debut on Friday night. The Phantoms doubled their lead at the 8:19 mark of the first with a goal from Zach Morin for a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Youngstown kept the same energy in the second period to make it 3-0 just 6:07 into the frame. Grant Young finished off a 2-on-1 rush with Adam Pietila sliding him the puck backdoor. The 16
th shot of the game for Youngstown was the last one Gadzhiev faced before being relieved of his duties.
Ethan Whitcomb (St. Catherines, ON, CAN) got the Jacks on the board with a power play goal at the 10:20 mark.
Matvei Gridin (Kurgan, RUS) held the puck at the top of the nearside circle and sent a pass across to Whitcomb who one-timed it to the back of the net. The goal moves Whitcomb into a share of 2
nd all-time for points as a Lumberjack with 119 (Paulovic 2013-2016).
A botched play in the defensive zone allowed Youngstown to regain their three goal lead just a couple minutes later when Ryan Botterill took possession at the side of the net and tucked it for his 21
st goal of the season.
In the intermission the Lumberjacks made some adjustments to the lines and came out looking like a different team.
Cameron Aucoin (Chicago, IL) scored his first career USHL goal when a shot from
David Klee (Castle Rock, CO) was stopped for the most part by the netminder, but remained loose in the crease. Aucoin attacked the puck and tapped it to the back of the net to get the Jacks back to within a pair.
Youngstown scored again, and again it was Nathan Lewis this time just one minute after the Jacks scored.
Gridin picked up a goal of his own at the 4:45 mark. Defenseman
Bauer Berry (Grand Forks, ND) was below the goal line in the offensive zone with the puck and popped it out to
Sacha Boisvert (Trois-Rivieres, QC, CAN). Boisvert redirected the pass back door to Gridin who had the whole net to shoot at for his 28
th goal of the campaign, second point of the contest.
Then it was
Ty Henricks' (Mission Viejo, CA) turn to score.
Xavier Veilleux (L'ancienne-Lorrette, QC, CAN) sent the puck across the zone to Henricks who used his heavy wrist shot to beat the netminder and bring the game to within one with just under 7 minutes to play.
In the final half a minute the Jacks struck with the empty net and extra attacker to tie the game 5-5. Gridin sent the puck up to
Joe Connor (Amherst, NH) at the blue line. Connor took a shot on net that was redirected home by
Justin Solovey (Holmdel, NJ) to send the game to overtime.
With no winner in the 3-on-3 overtime the teams went to a shootout. Henricks and Boisvert both scored while
Miles Roberts (Costa Mesa, CA) stopped 3 of 4 shots for the win.
Roberts (4-1-0-0) earned the win by making 10 saves on 12 shots over 31:26 minutes of work. Aiden Wright (7-3-0-2) earned the loss with 5 goals against on 33 shots.
The teams continue the three-game weekend with the middle matchup tomorrow night at 7 pm at the Covelli Centre. The game 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!
