Lumberjacks Log: Week 14

January 4, 2012

Muskegon starts the new year with a three-game week, finishing with a visit from the Stanley Cup and NASCAR Night Saturday as the Jacks host Chicago.


MUSKEGON, Mich. – As the calendar flips to 2012, the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ schedule will go from deliberate to frantic.
 
After a 32-day stretch in which they played just four games, the Lumberjacks begin a 10-game January with three tilts this week. The fun starts with back-to-back games in Youngstown, Ohio, before the Jacks return to Muskegon to host Chicago Saturday.
 
“We’re eager to get back to work as the schedule picks up,” said Lumberjacks Head Coach/GM Kevin Patrick. “As a coach and as a team adjustments have to be made when you play three games in three nights.”
 
Any road-induced weariness from the trip to Ohio should be eliminated when the Jacks lay eyes on the Stanley Cup, which will be available for viewing and pictures before and during Saturday’s 7:15 p.m. game. It’s also NASCAR Night, presented by The Lube Shop and Rock 101.7. Tickets to this year’s Daytona 500 will be up for grabs, among various prize packages provided by Sport Clips.
 
The Jacks (9-12-1, 19 points) enter this week with points in two straight games for the first time since November. Both positive results came in overtime against Indiana: Muskegon rallied for a 3-2 sudden death win Dec. 18 and came back to tie the Ice late in last Wednesday’s game before falling in OT.
 
“I’ve liked a lot in our game the last three times out,” Patrick said. The Lumberjacks were tied late with the U.S. National Team Dec. 17 in an eventual 3-2 road loss.
 
Muskegon is 3-1-0 against Youngstown (16-8-2, 34 points) this season, which is in the midst of its first real rough patch after a strong start. Following consecutive regulation losses in Indiana over New Year’s weekend, the Phantoms are 0-2-1 since the USHL winter break and have dropped to fourth place in the eight-team Eastern Conference.
 
The Jacks’ previous trip to Youngstown resulted in a 2-1 win Nov. 11 at the Covelli Centre, with Joseph Cox scoring the game winner and goalie John Keeney earning the No. 1 star with 25 saves.
 
After taking on the Phantoms Thursday and Friday, Muskegon lines up with another familiar opponent Saturday, as the Chicago Steel (8-18-1, 17 points) visit the Port City for the second time. Chicago has claimed three of the first four meetings in the season series, but the Steel are on a four-game losing streak that has dropped them to last in the East.
 
All three games this week start at 7:15 p.m., with the Meijer Pregame Show beginning 30 minutes prior to opening faceoff on the radio home of your Lumberjacks, 92.5 The Outlaw. Voice of the Jacks Matt Gajtka will have the play-by-play.
 
JACKS FACTS
  • The Lumberjacks had lost in regulation the first 10 times they trailed after two periods, and while they still haven’t come back to win in that situation, last Wednesday’s two-goal third period earned Muskegon an important point in the standings and kept them unbeaten (2-0-1) against second-place Indiana.
  • Defenseman Mark Yanis scored the most significant goal of his two-year USHL career last time out, tying the score with 7:34 left. In addition, fellow rearguards Alex Smith and Nick Seeler each had an assist on Dakota Klecha’s team-leading ninth goal of the season to start the comeback. Smith and Seeler, both rookies, combined for seven points (G, 6 A) in six December games.
  • Keeney has faced exactly 46 shots in three straight games for a total of 138. The third-year USHL netminder allowed only eight of those pucks into the Muskegon goal for a save percentage of .942 during that stretch. His season mark of .914 in that category has him tied for sixth in the league with Youngstown goalie Matt O’Connor.
  • After a three-point output Dec. 2 in a 5-0 Jacks win, John Padulo leads the way against the Phantoms with four points (2 G, 2 A) in four games. Keeney has splendid numbers (1.67 GAA, .955 SV%) in three starts vs. Youngstown.
  • Klecha’s eyes light up when facing the Steel, as he has a pair of two-goal games against them this season. Ryan Lomberg and Matt DeBlouw aren’t far behind with three points apiece vs. Chicago.
 
SCOUTING REPORT:
PHANTOM MENACE
  • The Phantoms kickstarted a four-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory in Muskegon Dec. 3, but a three-game trip last week has them staggering a bit. A tight 2-1 shootout loss in Cedar Rapids last Wednesday halted their positive vibes, then Indiana outscored them 8-2 over the weekend to hand Youngstown its first back-to-back regulation losses of the year.
  • Mike Ambrosia has taken over the Phantoms’ points lead with 26 (8 G, 18 A), but his six-game point streak ended in Youngstown’s 3-0 loss to Indiana on New Year’s Eve. Austin Cangelosi has scored in five straight contests and his plus-13 rating leads the team. J.T. Stenglein still holds the Phantoms’ goal lead with 14, three more than Cangelosi.
  • Youngstown has managed a paltry six goals in four games against Muskegon; defenseman Jordan Young’s three assists make him the Phantoms’ highest scorer in the season series. O’Connor has decent stats (2.83 GAA, .901 SV%) despite an 0-2-0 record vs. the Lumberjacks.
 
STEEL CAGE MATCH
  • By the time the puck drops in Muskegon Saturday, the Steel will have taken an entire week off, which may be the best tonic for the slumping club. Chicago was crushed 10-1 at Green Bay Dec. 31 to stretch its losing streak to four; the Steel have been outscored 23-5 since a 3-2 shootout victory Dec. 16 put them momentarily ahead of the Lumberjacks for seventh place.
  • It’s no secret the Steel are struggling again this season, although their eight wins put them just one shy of last year’s nine, the fewest in the USHL’s 60-game era. Chicago’s basement status this season is not surprising considering they fire the fewest shots per game in the league (25.8) and allow the most (35.1).
  • Despite their overall difficulties, the Steel have played their best against the Lumberjacks, winning all three home games. Jimmy Devito has scored in all four collisions with Muskegon and is plus-7 in the season series. Swedish goalie Mathias Dahlstrom has been in net for all three Chicago victories.
 
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Saturday, January 7 vs. CHICAGO at 7:15 p.m. – Stanley Cup & NASCAR Night / Hockey’s most legendary trophy will be in the house, plus enter to win a trip to the Daytona 500 and other great NASCAR-themed prizes!
Friday, January 13 vs. DES MOINES at 7:15 p.m. – Dollar Beers & Hot Dogs from 6-8 p.m.! 
Saturday, January 14 vs. GREEN BAY at 7:15 p.m. - Contribute a new or used pair of skates for use at the outdoor rink downtown and enter to win use of a suite during the Feb. 11 Red Wings Alumni Game! Skates can be dropped off at any time before Jan. 15.
 
FOLLOW THE JACKS ALL SEASON
92.5 FM The Outlaw is the exclusive radio home of your Muskegon Lumberjacks! Listen over the air or check out the action streaming online at 925fmtheoutlaw.com as Voice of the Jacks Matt Gajtka has the play-by-play. The USHL is also partnering with FastHockey.com to provide video coverage of all league games this season; go to ushl.fasthockey.com to sign up and watch!
 
TALKIN’ HOCKEY
JackSixty presented by Cinema Carousel is a weekly hour-long talk show devoted to your Muskegon Lumberjacks every Tuesday night from 6-7 p.m. at Hennessy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant. Located at the corner of Jefferson and Clay Streets in the heart of Muskegon, Hennessy’s plays host as Gajtka talks hockey with head coach Kevin Patrick, various players and other featured guests on 98.3 FM WLCS!
 
THE SOCIAL NETWORKS
Never go hungry for Jacks news: “Like” the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Facebook and follow “@MuskegonJacks” on Twitter to stay plugged into the Jacks 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, find the Jacks’ exclusive YouTube channel at youtube.com/MuskegonJacks!
 
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 muskegonlumberjacks.com.
 


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