The Muskegon Lumberjacks won their second straight game on Friday night – something that hasn’t happened in more than a month – and they didn’t even play a particularly great game.

They got their 7-4 win over the Team USA 17-Under squad by keeping their composure after losing an early lead, grinding hard the entire game and taking advantage of their opportunities.

That type of determination is what the Jacks will need if they hope to escape seventh place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference standings and sneak into the Clark Cup playoffs with 19 games left in the regular season.

The Lumberjacks had an early 2-0 lead, fell behind 3-2, then scored five of the final six goals. Forwards Ethan Whitcomb and Niko Rexine each scored a pair of goals to lead the way.

The Jacks improved to 20-21-2 on the season while Team USA fell to 23-13-3.

The two teams will go at it again on Saturday night at Muskegon’s Trinity health Arena.

“I didn’t think we had our A-game by any stretch,” said Lumberjacks coach Parker Burgess. “I thought our attention to detail was lacking with a few of the stick penalties and breakdowns in the defensive zone.

“Tonight, I thought we were just OK, but if we are going to find our way into the playoffs and get results, you have to find a way to win when you don’t have your A-game going.”

Special teams turned out to be a plus for the Lumberjacks on Friday. While their impressive streak of killing off 22 straight penalties came to an end, the Jacks still kept the visitors from scoring on five of six power plays.

Meanwhile the Jacks took advantage of their opportunities, finding the net on three of four power plays, which was really good for a team that’s struggled in that department all season.

“It wasn’t pretty, but our special teams were pretty good tonight,” said Rexine, who scored both of his goals on power plays. “I thought I played well, and I feel fortunate to be playing on the power play and that I have been getting some opportunities. I have been getting in front of the net and the puck has been there.”

“The past four weekends we have split and right now for the playoffs we are on the outside looking in. Two wins in a row is nice, but getting a sweep this weekend will be great to build our confidence. I think we have a strong group that believes in each other.”

The Jacks also continued an odd streak that really hasn’t been too big of a problem. They were outshot badly for the third straight game – 41-24 – but managed to win, just like they did last Saturday.

“I am OK with the 24 shots and less OK with the 40-plus shots allowed,” Burgess said. “We talk about possessing the puck and waiting for a quality chance and taking advantage of it. I thought we did that tonight. Another thing is we have been getting nice goals on 2-on-1 breaks and we’ve been getting those garbage goals, too.”

The Jacks jumped ahead 2-0 in the first period on a power play goal by Whitcomb at the 3:01 mark and a tally by Michael Callow at 4:46. Logan Hensler scored a power-play goal for Team USA with under a minute left in the period, ending the Jacks’ long penalty-killing streak.

Team USA scored two quick goals early in the second period, by Christian Humphreys at the 44 second mark and Kamil Bednarik about a minute later, to take a 3-2 lead.

But the Jacks quickly regained the momentum. Whitcomb tied things up with his second goal (17th of the season) at the 5:08 mark and Rexine added a power-play goal at 6:58, giving the home team a 4-3 edge.

Team USA’s John Whipple scored at 11:02, tying the game at 4-4, then the Lumberjacks took control for good with goals from Cody Croal and Ethan Fredericks at 15:26 and 16:22, respectively, to take a 6-4 lead in the third period.

Rexine scored the only goal of the third period on a power play at the 13:03 mark.

Jacks goalie Raythan Robbins worked hard to get the win, stopping 37 of 41 shots.