KEARNEY, Neb. – A night after a third period comeback, the Muskegon Lumberjacks (24-22-4) completed a repeat performance, scoring three straight goals to erase an early deficit and win 4-3 over the Tri-City Storm (18-31-3) on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center.
Storm forwards Austin Poganski and Dan Labosky each had a goal and an assist in the defeat for Tri-City, while defenseman Jalen Schulz scored his second goal of the season on a power play in the second period.
The game had an eerily similar script to Friday night’s contest. Just like the previous night, both teams held each other off the scoreboard for the majority of the opening period and each team notched a tally in the closing minutes of the frame.
After a penalty to Muskegon defenseman Adam Larkin for interference, the Storm went to the power play with less than three minutes remaining in the first. Chase Berger won the face-off to open the man advantage and got the puck to Labosky, who found Poganski in the perfect place for a re-direct that found its way to the twine.
The Lumberjacks tied the game at 1-1 with just five seconds remaining in the period on a goal by Trevor Morbeck, sending the teams into the first intermission with an even score.
In the second period Tri-City once again took control of the game, getting goals from both Labosky and Schulz.
For the second consecutive night, Labosky found himself within striking distance and used a quick blast to beat Muskegon goaltender Eric Schierhorn, giving Tri-City their second lead of the night at 2-1.
Later in the frame, Schulz put a puck toward the net and watched it redirect past Schierhorn for his second tally of the year to make it 3-1.
But Jack Rowe responded for Muskegon to cut the lead to 3-2 with his 13th goal of the season at 15:47 of the period.
In the final frame, the Lumberjacks got goals from Matej Paulovic and Cooper Marody to take the lead while holding the Storm quiet on the offensive end.
Tri-City goaltender Jacob Johansson saw 39 shots come his way, stopping 35 of them, while Schierhorn made 23 saves of his own to pick up the win.
The Storm will return to action next Saturday night, taking on the Sioux City Musketeers in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Kyle Eastman, and Patrick Curry, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson and Tory Dello…
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Daniel Labosky, Chase Berger) 17:52
Muskegon – Trevor Morbeck (Matt Iacopelli, Mason Jobst) 19:55
2nd Period
Tri-City – Dan Labosky (Chase Berger, Austin Poganski) 4:39
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz (power play) (Kevin Kerr, Garrett Gamez) 13:04
Muskegon – Jack Rowe (Robbie DeMontis, Janik Moeser) 15:47
3rd Period
Muskegon – Matej Paulovic (Christopher Dodero) 7:22
Muskegon – Cooper Marody (Chase Hatcher) 10:27
PENALTIES
1st Period
Tri-City – Donovan Gardiner – (Hooking), 2 min, 0:26
Tri-City – Grant Hutton – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 2:00
Muskegon – Adam Larkin – (Interference), 2 min, 17:47
2nd Period
Muskegon – Trevor Morbeck – (High Sticking), 2 min, 8:10
Muskegon – Cooper Marody – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:21
Tri-City – Donovan Gardiner – (Fighting), 5 min, 17:29
Muskegon – Matt Iacopelli – (Fighting), 5 min, 17:29
Muskegon – Matt Iacopelli – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 17:29
3rd Period
Tri-City – Grant Hutton – (Fighting), 5 min, 2:59
Muskegon – Jack Rowe – (Fighting), 5 min, 2:59
Tri-City – Joey DiBenedetto – (Roughing), 2 min, 2:59
Muskegon – Mason Jobst – (Roughing), 2 min, 2:59
Muskegon – Daniel Willett – (Holding), 2 min, 3:54
Tri-City – Daniel Fritz – (Hooking), 2 min, 16:43
Power Play
Muskegon –0/3
Tri-City – 2/5
Shots
Muskegon: 13, 12, 14, = Total: 39
Tri-City: 9, 10, 7, = Total: 26
Saves
Muskegon – Eric Schierhorn – 23/26
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 35/39
NEW YORK (AP) — Creighton’s Doug McDermott, the eighth player in college basketball history to score more than 3,000 points, is among three unanimous selections for the All-Big East team.
