March 10, 2023 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON – Trailing 3-1 in the third period the Muskegon Lumberjacks found a way to tie the game and force overtime against the Dubuque Fighting Saints, but a power play goal in the extra period lifted the visitors over Muskegon for the 4-3 overtime win.
With the overtime loss the Jacks pick up their 43rd point of the season and move their record to 20-24-3-0 this season. Dubuque picks up two points with the win and improve to 25-17-4-1 on the campaign.
The Jacks took a 1-0 lead 4:35 into the first period when Joe Connor scored his first career USHL goal in his first career game. Nathan McBrayer carried the puck out of his own zone and up the middle of the ice before giving it to the near side and Luke Buss. The Quinnipiac commit carried the puck down the wall and threw it out front where it bounced off of the netminder and into the air. Connor knocked it out of the air and banged it home for his first goal and the 1-0 lead.
With just 3 seconds remaining in the first period Muskegon found themselves shorthanded and with a delayed penalty against. Dubuque took advantage of the opportunity and controlled possession in the offensive zone. Ryan St. Louis carried the puck down the far side and below the net. St. Louis threw the puck towards the slot where Jake Sondreal fired a one-time shot past Robbins to tie the game 1-1 ahead of the first intermission.
On the power play to start the second period the Fighting Saints struck again on the man advantage though this time it was the captain Max Burkholder. Ryan St. Louis played the puck below the goal line for Max Montes who sent it in front to Burkholder and the defenseman fired the shot into the back of the net just 1:39 into the middle frame.
Dubuque doubled their lead 2:28 into the third period on a beautiful passing play started by Ryan St. Louis who sent the puck across the zone to Staring who then tapped it back door to Montes to make it 3-1.
Two straight, quick strike goals tied the game up just three minutes later. First, at the 5:33 mark Michael Callow held the puck in the far side corner and fired it across the seam to Owen Keefe who fired a shot past the blocker of Marcus Brännman for his second goal of the season and to bring the game back to within one. Just 10 seconds later Ty Henricks tied the game after the Jacks won the ensuing draw at center ice. Henricks walked into the offensive zone and ripped a shot over the pad of Brännman for his 9th of the season.
The game went to overtime tied 3-3, but only lasted 2:09 after the Jacks went shorthanded. On the power play Ryan St. Louis sent a shot towards the net that Montes redirected past Robbins to end the game and win it 4-3 over Muskegon.
Robbins (4-12-1) started and played the whole game for Muskegon shutting down numerous quality chances for Dubuque, and a total of 32 out of 36 shots against. Brännman made 22 saves on 25 shots in the winning effort. (19-8-2-1).
The two teams will go back at it tomorrow night to close the weekend series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Trinity Health Arena. For tickets visit muskegonlumberjacks.com or call the box office at 231.799.7000. Catch the game online on FloSports and the Mixlr app.
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