MUSKEGON, MI – Captains lead for a reason, and on Friday night
Rudolfs Berzkalns (Cesis, LAT) showed why he wears the "C" for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (3-4-0-2, 8 pts.). While the Jacks fell 3-2 in a shootout to the visiting Youngstown Phantoms (3-5-0-0, 6 pts.), Berzkalns had a fight, a goal, and a goal in the shootout to lead the success for Muskegon.
The Phantoms opened the scoring in the first period with a 5-on-3 power-play goal. After
Oscar Westman (Stockholm, SWE) made a pretty save by spinning around and grabbing the puck before it crossed the goal line earlier in the advantage, Youngstown used a similar play to break the ice. Brayden Thompson slid a pass from the far side across the slot to the near circle for Lucas Zajic, who one-timed a shot to the back of the net.
Just one minute into the second period, the Lumberjacks found the equalizer.
Louis Jonerheim (Lund, SWE) won possession below the goal line on a heavy forecheck and slid a pass to the low slot.
Anthony Thomas-Maroon (St. Louis, MO) was left alone in the middle of the slot and tied the game 1-1 with his third goal of the season.
The third period brought goals for both teams. Matej Mikes scored the Phantoms' first at 12:13. Mikes carried the puck up the far side of the ice with little pressure, then banked a shot off the near post and in to take a 2-1 lead.
Berzkalns tied the game with 2:30 left in regulation, with his own net empty for the extra attacker.
Zaac Charbonneau (Gatineau, QC, CAN) took the initial shot that Berzkalns deflected past the goalie for his first goal of the season.
Overtime brought chances on both ends, but the Lumberjacks held a clear advantage, including a breakaway for
Teddy Lechner (Bloomington, MN) that was turned aside. In the 8-round shootout, Berzkalns was the only Lumberjack to score, while Zajic tied it before Jesse Orlowsky scored the game-winner.
Westman (2-2-0-1) earned the shootout loss on his record, but kept the Lumberjack within striking distance all game long with 26 saves on 28 shots. Owen Lepak (3-3-0-0) matched Westman's stat line but earned the win on his season record.
The teams close the two-game series at Trinity Health Arena on Saturday Night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm as part of Throwback Night. Tickets are available at muskegonlumberjacks.com or by calling 231-799-7000.
