IHL

Posted in: IHL
Jacks avoid elimination in OT
By Matt Gajtka
May 6, 2009 - 11:39:25 PM

MUSKEGON, Mich. – The Muskegon Lumberjacks could’ve easily thrown their hands up in despair.

After their captain had given them the lead late in the third period, seemingly sending them on their way to extending the Turner Cup Final to a fifth game Friday night, the defending champion Komets tied the score even later in the frame to push the contest to overtime.

But with the Komets one sudden-death score away from hoisting the trophy on the Lumberjacks’ home ice via a four-game sweep, Muskegon’s Billy Collins shoved the game-winner past Fort Wayne goaltender Nick Boucher at 16:31 of overtime to top the visitors 4-3 Wednesday night and extend the IHL postseason by at least one more game.

The Lumberjacks still trail in the best-of-seven series 3-1, but they are now one step closer to completing what only the 1999 Orlando Solar Bears have accomplished in IHL history – winning a series after being down three games to none.

Meanwhile, the Komets still have three more chances to claim their second-straight Turner Cup title, but they had to feel confident after 40-year-old Konstantin Shafranov rammed in a dramatic game-tying goal with 46 seconds to play and the L.C. Walker Arena congregation on its feet.

Shafranov’s tally, his second in two games, negated a penalty-shot goal converted by Muskegon’s Todd Robinson with 4:28 remaining in the third against Boucher, who turned away 21 shots in the loss, just his third of the playoffs, two of which took place in overtime.

Muskegon’s Robinson and Darryl McArthur each added an assist to their respective goals to lead the home side, while Fort Wayne’s Shafranov and Justin Hodgman (two assists) also racked up a pair of points apiece on the night.

Facing elimination for the first time in the playoffs, Muskegon had channeled its desperation effectively from the drop of the puck, getting first-period goals from Anton Kharin (2:26) and defenseman McArthur (15:14) to jump out 2-0 in front of 2,217 on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

Nevertheless, the Komets were able to absorb any further offensive thrusts and slowly climbed back into the game, helped along by David Hukalo’s team-leading eighth goal of the postseason with 3:25 remaining in the second.

Fort Wayne went on to toss 24 shots at Muskegon rookie netminder Kevin Armstrong in the third, part of a 54-shot effort by the Komets as they continued to clearly outpace the ‘Jacks in that category during this series. The persistent barrage paid off at 4:57 of the third, when Sean O’Connor found a way to squeeze one in to tie the game 2-2.

It was the second time in two nights that the team down 2-0 was able to even the score by the opening moments of the last regulation frame. And just like Tuesday’s Game 3, the club with the early lead managed to mount enough late-game offense to atone for a mid-game letdown.

The Turner Cup Final – and the Turner Cup itself – will travel back to Fort Wayne, Ind., for Friday evening’s Game 5 at 7:30 p.m. If the Lumberjacks pull off another win, Game 6 is slated for Saturday at 7 from Muskegon.

Contact matt.gajtka@prohockeynews.com

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