MUSKEGON, Michigan (March 29th) – When all looked lost tonight for the Muskegon Lumberjacks facing a two-goal deficit with 2:31 left in regulation, the home team found a way to send the game into an extra session as a pair of goals from Jack Rowe within a span of 1:08 that included the game-tying goal with eight seconds left in regulation eventually leading to their second consecutive shootout victory with the game-winner from Daniel Willet in the fourth round in a 5-4 final, 2-1 in the shootout, at the L.C. Walker Arena.

The Lumberjacks (29-24-4, 62 points) got off to a fast start winning the race to the scoreboard at the 4:17 mark as Mason Jobst lobbed a passed ahead to a streaking Matt Iacopelli, who gloved the puck down and slid his league-leading 40th goal of the season through the five-hole of Jacob Nehama (5-7-2) in the left faceoff circle to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.

The game went into the waning moments of the opening frame when the Stars (22-28-8, 52 points) suddenly potted a pair of goals within a span of eight seconds to snag a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.  Both goals for Lincoln were scored by Christian Lampasso for his 14th and 15th markers of the year as the first one was tallied off a loose puck in the slot after Eric Schierhorn (19-16-1) came out to challenge a breakaway opportunity by Tom Marchin and left a wide open net after being unable to find the rebound, while the second goal came off a quick Muskegon turnover in the low slot area.

The first Lampasso tally went unassisted, while the second goal was set up by Dominick Sacco.  Lincoln outshot Muskegon through the first 20 minutes of play by a 19-8 margin.

As the second period reached the beginning of the latter stages, the Lumberjacks capitalized on their first power play of the night tying the game at 2-2 with a deflection goal by Chris Dodero at the 14:22 mark for his 8th of the season as the puck was redirected between the faceoff circles that was set up by Robbie DeMontis and Daniel Willett.

The tie game went into the second and final intermission with Muskegon outshooting Lincoln, 15-8, during the middle 20 minutes.

The third period trudged along until the visiting Stars regained their lead at 3-2 at the 7:33 mark as Magnus Hoff found a loose rebound in the goal crease and lifted a backhand top shelf for his 14th goal of the season that was aided by John Simonson and David Parrottino.

Late in regulation, the Stars doubled their lead to 4-2 with 2:31 left in regulation as Simonson ripped a slapper from the right faceoff circle short side over Schierhorn’s glove for his 27th goal of the season that was set up by Ludvig Hoff and Jared Kolquist.

In a last ditch attempt to get back in the game, the Lumberjacks pulled Schierhorn for the extra attacker and cut the deficit to 4-3 with 1:13 to go as Jack Rowe redirected a shot through the five-hole of Nehama while parked in front of the net for his 16th goal of the year that was assisted by Trevor Morbeck and Matej Paulovic.

While Schierhorn was pulled again with under ten seconds left in the game, Muskegon found a way to knot the game even at 4-4 as Rowe chipped a shot in the low slot over Nehama’s right shoulder to eventually send the game into overtime that was helped by Iacopelli and Jobst.

In the extra four-on-four overtime session, no scoring was had as the Lumberjacks outshot the Stars by a 6-1 margin, and overall, the home team would edge the visitors in that category by a 41-39 margin.

During the skills competition, Lincoln grabbed a 1-0 lead through the first round with a tally from Dominick Sacco, and the lead held into the final shooter of the third round until Paulovic lifted a backhand over Nehama’s blocker to knot the skills competition even at 1-1 going into sudden death.  After the Stars missed on their fourth round opportunity, former Star Daniel Willett laced the game-winner with a wrist shot from between the faceoff circles that beat Nehama on the blocker side to cap off the comeback victory.

Eric Schierhorn picked up his 19th victory of the season for Muskegon stopping 35 of 39 shots that included three of four shooters in the shootout, while Jacob Nehama stopped 37 of 41 shots for Lincoln that included two of four shooters in the skills competition.  Lincoln was led offensively by Christian Lampasso (two goals) and John Simonson (one goal and one assist) with two points each, and Muskegon’s offensive push was led by Jack Rowe (two goals), Matt Iacopelli (one goal and one assist), and Mason Jobst (two assists) with a pair of points each.  Muskegon sweeps the two-game regular season series against Lincoln.

The Lumberjacks will hit the road tomorrow for another Sunday matinee game this time in Ann Arbor against the USNTDP Under-18 Team at 3:30 pm to conclude their second consecutive three-game weekend.

Next weekend, Muskegon will conclude their 2013-14 regular season with a pair of games against two Eastern Conference foes that are still in the playoff chase beginning next Friday, April 4th on the road against the Chicago Steel at 8:30 pm followed by a home tilt against the Green Bay Gamblers next Saturday, April 5th at 7:15 pm.

Next Saturday’s game will feature Fan Appreciation Night along with the return of our Subway Saturday promotion.  If the Lumberjacks defeat the Gamblers, fans that attend the game can redeem their ticket stubs at any participating West Michigan Subway location for a buy one six-inch sub and get another six-inch sub of equal or lesser value for free.

Individual game tickets will be on sale all next week for the low price of $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-12 if they are purchased before the day of the game for next Saturday’s game against Green Bay.  Tickets can be purchased at the L.C. Walker Arena Box Office or by calling (231) 724-5225.

The exclusive radio home for the Muskegon Lumberjacks all season long is 92.5 FM WLAW “The Outlaw” as Bryan Fongers delivers the call beginning ten minutes prior to puck drop.  You can also catch the Lumberjacks on Michigan TV and Sports with the Muskegon Lumberjack “Game of the Week” every Thursday at 6:00 pm on Charter channel 16.

The proud home of all Muskegon Lumberjacks home games is the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon located just minutes from the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline.  Muskegon Lumberjacks hockey, “Experience the Buzz!”

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States.  The Lumberjacks’ organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports.  For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.