KEARNEY, Neb. – The Muskegon Lumberjacks (23-22-4) used a three-goal third period to defeat the Tri-City Storm (18-30-3) by a score of 4-3 in the first of a two-game weekend series on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.
Storm defenseman Daniel Fritz scored his first USHL goal in his 35th career game, while forwards Dan Labosky and Conner Valesano each netted tallies in the loss for Tri-City.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first 18 minutes of the game, but both teams scored in the final two minutes of the opening period and the game was knotted at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
With Storm forward Garrett Gamez sitting in the box for a slashing penalty, the Lumberjacks capitalized, taking a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by defenseman Christian Wolanin.
Tri-City tied things right back up when Fritz got his first strike of the season less than a minute later. A clearing attempt took a bounce off a skate and landed on the stick of the Harwood, Md. native, who stepped into a shot that went over the right shoulder of Muskegon goaltender Eric Schierhorn.
The Storm opened up a two-goal lead in the second, capitalizing on offensive opportunities less than two minutes apart from each other.
First, Labosky took a pass from Cody Milan and turned on his wheels, beating everyone up the ice and wristing a shot to the upper right corner of the Muskegon net to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead. With the assist, Milan now has his longest point streak of the season at three games.
Then Garrett Gamez found Valesano for a one-timer 1:11 later to push the Storm lead to 3-1. Forward Austin Poganski notched the second assist, his ninth helper and 24th point of the year.
Later in the middle period, Storm netminder Jacob Johansson did his best to preserve the lead, stopping 17 shots in the frame. Tri-City held on to their two-goal edge to start the final period.
But the bounces weren’t as kind to the Storm in the final 20 minutes, and the Lumberjacks scored three consecutive goals to re-take the lead and win the game 4-3.
The final tallies were scored by Christopher Dodero, Adam Larkin and Matej Paulovic.
Schierhorn picked up his 14th win of the season in net, making 29 saves, while Johansson stopped 38 shots for Tri-City in the loss.
The two teams will line up for a rematch on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center with the opening face-off taking place at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Kyle Eastman, and Joey DiBenedetto, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson and Tory Dello…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Muskegon – Christian Wolanin (Jack Rowe, Mason Jobst) 18:12
Tri-City – Daniel Fritz (unassisted) 19:10
2nd Period
Tri-City – Dan Labosky (Cody Milan) 7:35
Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Garrett Gamez, Austin Poganski) 8:46
3rd Period
Muskegon – Christopher Dodero (Cullen Hurley, Adam Larkin) 2:05
Muskegon – Adam Larkin (Matej Paulovic, Christopher Dodero) 6:33
Muskegon – Matej Paulovic (Adam Larkin, Christopher Dodero) 11:27
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Holding), 2 min, 13:10
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Slashing), 2 min, 17:50
2nd Period
Muskegon – Cullen Hurley – (Hooking), 2 min, 4:47
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 18:51
3rd Period
Muskegon – Joseph Cecconi – (Hooking), 2 min, 13:17
Power Play
Muskegon –1/3
Tri-City – 0/2
Shots
Muskegon: 13, 17, 12, = Total: 42
Tri-City: 9, 10, 13, = Total: 32
Saves
Muskegon – Eric Schierhorn – 29/32
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 38/42