Lumberjacks even up Conference Final series with Game 2 win over Chicago
By @StefanKubus –
Heartbreak on Saturday.
Vindication on Sunday.
Following a Game 1 overtime loss at home on Saturday, the Muskegon Lumberjacks responded with a 3-2 win in Game 2 at L.C. Walker Arena to even their USHL Eastern Conference Final series with the Chicago Steel.
After Jagger Joshua and Mikael Hakkarainen gave the Jacks a 2-1 lead through the first period, Jack Williams scored the middle frame’s lone goal and ended up being the game winner, with helpers going to Colby Bukes and Bobby Lynch. Goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped 24 of 26 in the win.
Muskegon heads to Chicago for Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-five series on Friday and Saturday. If necessary, Game 5 will be back at L.C. Walker Arena on May 6.
Williams’ game-winning marker from Game 2:
Lynch fakes the shot and dishes it to Jack Williams for the one-timer 🚨 @muskegonjacks #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/MLUop5LdWt
— USHL (@USHL) April 28, 2019
Game 1
In Game 1, Hakkarainen potted a pair of late first-period goals to get the Jacks off to a strong start.
Despite the Steel scoring a pair in the second stanza, Joshua’s third of the postseason ensured Muskegon had a one-goal lead heading into the final frame. Lynch fired home his second of the playoffs just 2:41 into the third period, but two goals from the Steel – including a power-play marker with just three seconds to go – sent the game to overtime.
It didn’t take long to find a winner, as Chicago’s Nick Abruzzese lit the lamp at 5:16 of the extra frame to give Chicago the Game 1 victory.