MUSKEGON – A dirty game, a clean game – it doesn’t seem to matter.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks just keep on winning.

On Saturday night the Jacks and Cedar Rapids Roughriders (the most penalized team in the USHL) played a game filled with fights and infractions. There were a total of 30 penalties called for 156 penalty minutes, but Muskegon rose above the chaos and rallied for a 5-2 victory.

Sunday’s matinee game, the last of the three-game weekend series, was much calmer, with only 11 penalties called against the teams. The Lumberjacks thrived in the more tranquil environment, as well, beating the Roughriders 3-0 at Mercy Health Arena to secure a weekend sweep, their fourth straight win, and their eighth victory in their last nine games.

Muskegon’s Joey Larson, who had two of the Jacks’ three goals. Photo/Tonya Pardon

Joey Larson, Muskegon’s leading goal-scorer, netted his 14th and 15 goals of the season in the win.

The surging Lumberjacks are now 10-8-3 on the season, good for 23 points and fourth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. Their climb in the standings could continue in the near future, because the Jacks are only three points behind Dubuque and Madison, which are currently in a tie for second place in the conference.

The Lumberjacks will play their last home game for a while next Friday against Team USA Under-17 squad, before heading to Chicago to play the first place Steel on Saturday.

“Today they brought out an extra ref and the supervisor was here, and any little sticking penalty was a penalty,” said Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton. “We knew it was going to be called tight.”

Muskegon Goalie Platon Zadorozhnyy pitched a shutout in net, stopping all 25 shots Cedar Rapids shots he faced.

“Platon made five great saves, especially towards the end,” Hamilton said. “He was really solid, and I thought he played the puck well and made some key saves.”

Muskegon Goalie Platon Zadorozhny, who held Cedar Rapids scoreless. Photo/Tonya Pardon

The first period was scoreless, just like it was on Saturday night.

The Jacks scored twice in the second period, with goals from Jake Braccini at the 4:09 mark and Larson at 6:01.

The RoughRiders were ticketed for three straight penalties during the third period, but Muskegon could not take advantage of the power play opportunities.

Cedar Rapids pulled its goalie with 2:30 left in regulation for an extra skater. The strategy backfired when Larson scored his second goal, an empty-netter, with 30 seconds left in the contest.

The margin of victory might have been greater, but the Lumberjacks failed to score on a total of six power play opportunities.

Muskegon’s Owen Mehlenbacher races up the ice with the puck. Photo/Tonya Pardon

That stat did not bother Hamilton too much, particularly since his team got another win.

“We had some good looks with the man advantage today,” Hamilton said. “Sometimes you can’t always measure it on the goals scored. Sometimes you need to measure it on the energy that it provides.”

Quinn Hutson chipped in with two assists, while Nick Peluso, Gavin McCarthy and Nathan McBrayer each had one for the Jacks.

Muskegon outshot the RoughRiders by a 37-25 margin.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period
No Scoring 

Second Period
Muskegon – 4:09, Jake Braccini (6) (Nick Peluso, Gavin McCarthy)
Muskegon – 6:01, Joey Larson (14) (Quinn Hutson, Nathan McBrayer) 

Third Period
Muskegon- 19:30, Joey Larson (EN) (15) (Quinn Hutson)