Green Bay takes two of three from Eastern Conference contender Muskegon. Leading the way for the Gamblers was Ryan Humphrey (3 goals), Libor Nemec (3 goals), Julian Lutz (2 goals), and Mikey DeAngelo (2 goals). Other Gambler goal scorers were Rasmus Larsson, Ben Poitras, Jayson Shaugabay, and Blake Bechen.
The Gamblers got ahead early in game one when captain DeAngelo found the back of the net for 17th goal of the season just five minutes in. Muskegon would tie the game, but Hughes gave the Gamblers the lead back a mere 21 seconds later. The Andover, MA native scored his 11th of the season from the point on an assist from Humphrey. Humphrey then rounded out the scoring in the opening period to extend the Gamblers’ lead to 3-1. The former OHL star found space to receive a pass from James Duerr and fire in a wrist shot from the left circle. DeAngelo got his second goal of the night at 15:21 in the second, before Bechen rounded out the scoring on a power-play at 5:48 in the third to wrap up a 5-1 win. For their performances, Adam Gajan earned first star with 35 saves, DeAngelo second star with two goals, and Humphrey third star with a goal and an assist.
Game two started in a similar fashion with the Gamblers getting on the board first with a Rasmus Larsson goal. The Swedish Defenseman put in a rebound at the left circle on a shot from Bechen at 9:29 for his 3rd goal of the season. Lutz doubled the Gamblers’ advantage with his 17th goal of the season at 10:58 on a wrist shot from the right circle. The Lumberjacks later got two unanswered at 18:21 in the first, and 12:58 in the second to tie the game at 2-2. Shaugabay got credited with goal number 3 for the Gamblers exactly a minute later at 13:58 to regain the lead. Muskegon was able to answer yet again just 20 seconds later to tie it at three before Nemec gave Green Bay their final lead of the night at 15:34 when he received a pass from Lutz at the crease to put the puck in the net. The rest of the game was all Muskegon as they finished with four unanswered goals, three by Boisvert (16:06 in the second, 4:51, and 19:08 in the third) and one from Solovey (8:13 in the third).
In the final game of the series Green Bay took control of the series by opening up with three unanswered goals and never looked back. Nemec started the scoring with a goal at the right circle at 4:45 in the first with assists from Chris Romaine and Shaugabay. Lutz was the second Gambler to get on the scoresheet at 8:42 in the period for his 18th of the season. The Arizona Coyotes draft selection received a pass from Nemec at the crease and scored on a backhand to double the Green Bay lead. With the Gamblers on the power play and doing everything they could to extend the lead, Poitras found a way through in the slot at 6:41 in the second to make it a 3-0 game. Muskegon would get on the board when their leading scorer Matvei Gridin would find the back of the net. At 12:05 Shaugabay found Humphrey on a quick line change to leave him on a breakaway all alone against the Lumberjacks goaltender, Beau Lane. Humphrey deked him and put the puck through the 5-hole to retake a three-goal lead for the Gamblers. Muskegon got themselves back on the board at 16:13 to make it a 4-2 game heading into the third. Nemec put the game away for Green Bay with his second goal of the game on another power-play at 9:47 in the final period. The Slovakian put in a rebound off a Lutz shot to score his 21st of the season. The Lumberjacks got two late goals to make it interesting, but the Gamblers held on to win 5-4. For their performances, Gavin Moffat earned first star with 35 saves, Nemec earned second star with two goals and an assist, and Lutz third star with a goal and two assists.
The Gamblers are at home next on Friday March 1st to face the Chicago Steel. Come out for Star Wars, Mental Health Awareness, and Bud Night! GET TICKETS NOW: https://tinyurl.com/3pk265vy
