PLYMOUTH, MI – Some nights the bounces just don't go your way. That's a lesson the Muskegon Lumberjacks (20-8-0-0, 40 pts.)) faced on Saturday night after firing 40 shots on net, but only scoring on two of them in a 4-2 loss at the hands of the USNTDP Under-17 Team (6-15-3-1, 16 pts.)
 
A goal only 64 seconds into the contest from Drew Stewart (Minnetonka, MN) would ultimately be overturned following a USA coaches' challenge, but an Auto Owners Insurance Power Play allowed Stewart to get one to stick on the board with his 14^th goal of the season. Danny Klaers (Wayzata, MN) and Jack Christ (Chaska, MN) worked together to get Stewart the puck on the far side of the net. While standing on the goal line, Stewart lifted a shot over the shoulder of the goalie and under the bar to make it 1-0 6:30 into the game.
 
Tying the game back up at 1-1, the 17s found themselves with numbers up the ice on their way to the Lumberjacks zone. Carter Meyer left the puck on the near side wall for Sam Pandolfo before moving across the slot. Pandolfo sent a pass back to Meyer on the other side of the ice for a one-timer to the back of the net.
 
In the second period, the NTDP added three more goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead back into the locker room for the second intermission. The first goal came 4:51 into the period when Nolan Fitzhenry took away the puck from a Lumberjack in the low slot of the Muskegon zone and buried the mini breakaway.
 
Defenseman Diego Gutierrez jumped up in the play and pushed a rebound to the back of the net on an odd-man rush into the Muskegon zone at the 6:07 mark. Hudson Salvador picked up the assist on the goal. The third goal of the period was a power play goal for Alexander Milojevic at the 13:17 mark. Milojevic finished off a passing play started by Freddie Schneider and Gutierrez.
 
Looking to mount a comeback, the Lumberjacks' offense was relentless in the third period, outshooting the NTDP 12-4 in the frame. Despite the lopsided numbers, though, only one shot found the back of the net.
 
Stewart scored his second goal of the game at the 9:07 mark of the third period while shorthanded. Stewart won the defensive zone draw and made his way to the far side of the ice, meeting a wrap-around from Barrett Dexheimer (Edina, MN). As he made his way into the offensive zone, Stewart opened his stick blade as if he was going to pass the puck, but instead fired a shot into the top corner of the net for his 15^th goal of the season.
 
Will Keane (West Bloomfield, MI) (6-5-0-0) earned the loss on his record with 14 saves on 18 shots against. Nate Chizik (2-7-1-0) stopped 27 of 39 shots fired by the Lumberjacks on his way to the win.
 
Sunday afternoon, the two teams close out the Week 14 home-and-home series at Trinity Health Arena. It's Beach Day in Muskegon. Get your tickets at muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling 231-799-7000. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. in downtown Muskegon.