While families celebrated Easter Sunday with egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, the Muskegon Lumberjacks celebrated with a 6-2 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference Semifinal series.
Special teams play was the Jacks’ friend Sunday, with three of their six goals coming on the power play. Two others came while skating 4-on-4.
It was Youngstown who scored first at the 5:18 mark of the opening period. Kade Stengrim rifled an initial shot off the far pad, and Brecken Smith put in the rebound for a 1-0 lead.
The Lumberjacks got their first power-play goal over two minutes later. David Deputy sent a one-timer from the far circle into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1. It was Deputy’s third goal of the playoffs.
At the 16:00 mark of the period, Tynan Lawrence scored his third goal of the post-season to put Muskegon in the lead 2-1.
Deputy notched his second of the night two minutes into the middle frame after penalties on each team resulted in a 4-on-4. Deputy cut toward the net after getting into the offensive zone, then lifted a forehand into the net for a 3-1 Jacks lead.
The Phantoms narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 10:45, with Luke Osburn firing a shot past a net-front screen. It was his first goal of the playoffs.
Muskegon’s power play struck again in the final minute of the second period. Teddy Spitznagel provided his own screen in front, allowing Jack Galanek to put in a shot for a 4-2 advantage.
Another 4-on-4 situation came midway through the third period, and the Jacks once again capitalized. Rather than try for a hat trick, Deputy selflessly slid the puck to the back door for Jack Christ, who didn’t miss from the far side of the crease.
The Jacks put the icing on the cake with an empty-net goal from Lawrence at the 16:04 mark, giving Muskegon a 6-2 victory and taking a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series.
Stephen Peck made 28 saves to earn the victory, while Youngstown goaltender Melvin Strahl stopped 22 of the 27 shots he faced. The Jacks capitalized on all three of their power-play chances.
The Jacks will have a chance to ice the series Tuesday at Trinity Health Arena in Muskegon, with puck drop set for 7 Pm ET.