MUSKEGON, Mich – The Clark Cup Playoffs for the Muskegon Lumberjacks began with Game 1 of an Eastern Conference Semifinal showdown against the Anderson Cup Champion Youngstown Phantoms at the L.C. Walker Arena with the Lumberjacks looking to protect their home ice to begin the series. In a game that featured back-and-forth momentum swings through the opening two periods of regulation, Game 1 carried on into sudden death overtime where the Lumberjacks went on to draw first blood in the 
best-of-five series courtesy of a blast by Matheson Iacopelli early in the extra session to cap off a 5-4 victory tonight and take a 1-0 series lead over the visiting Phantoms.
Right out the gate, the Phantoms grabbed an early 1-0 lead just 39 seconds into the game as a centering feed from the left wing corner by Tyler Sheehy led to Kyle Connor (1) redirecting a goal in the low slot top shelf over the left shoulder of Eric Schierhorn (1-0) that was also set up by Vas Kolias.
The Lumberjacks found a quick equalizer 1:36 after the Youngstown tally as Mark Petaccio (1) received a breakaway feed from Ryan Siroky at the Phantoms blue line and went on to slide a forehand past the outstretched Chris Birdsall (0-1) that was additionally helped by Iacopelli.
The same score held into the waning minutes of the opening frame when Muskegon snatched its first lead of the night with 1:59 remaining courtesy of a five-on-three power play goal by Griffen Molino (1) with a second left on the two-man advantage in which the Western Michigan commit roofed one top shelf to the left of Birdsall. Matej Paulovic and Corey Schueneman assisted on the marker.
Before the opening stanza came to a close, the Phantoms struck back to even the score at 2-2 with under 30 seconds to go as a three-on-two odd man rush while shorthanded led to Josh Melnick (1) redirecting a centering feed by Connor into the open net on the backdoor.
Youngstown outshot Muskegon through the opening 20 minutes of regulation by a 16-13 margin. The Lumberjacks were 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Phantoms started off 0-for-2.
The home team started off the second period netting the first two goals of the middle frame beginning at the 6:50 mark courtesy of a rebound goal by Christian Wolanin (1) to help give the Lumberjacks a 4-3 lead. Tommy Marchin and Molino aided on the goal.
Just 1:58 later, Muskegon doubled the advantage to 4-2 as a shot from the left point by Adrian Sloboda (1) found its way through traffic and past the short side on Birdsall that was assisted by Molino and Marchin.
Youngstown battled back to pot the final pair of markers in the second stanza past the halfway point of the second period to square the game back up at 4-4. At the 11:15 mark, former Lumberjack Ryan Lomberg (1) laced a breakaway shorthanded goal to cut the deficit to 4-3 that was set up by Kolias. Minutes later with 4:48 left in the middle frame, Kolias (1) ripped a wrist shot from left faceoff circle over the glove hand of Schierhorn to knot the game even that was helped by Chase Pearson and Matt Alvaro.
The tie score stood pat heading into the second intermission break with the Lumberjacks grabbing hold of the shot battle overall, 29-27, after outshooting the Phantoms during the middle 20 minutes of regulation, 16-11.
The final period of regulation saw no goals recorded foreshadowing an eventual sudden death overtime session with Muskegon remaining in control of the shots on goal battle by a narrow 39-37 margin. Both teams recorded ten shots on goal apiece during the third stanza.
Minutes into the overtime, a counter attack by the Lumberjacks led to Siroky feeding a trailing Iacopelli (1) in the left faceoff circle, and the Chicago Blackhawks prospect and Western Michigan commit one-timed the game-winner short side past Birdsall 4:38 into the extra session to cap off the thrilling overtime victory at home. Wolanin received the secondary helper on the marker. Muskegon slightly outshot Youngstown for the game, 41-38.
Eric Schierhorn posted a 34-save effort for Muskegon in the home victory, while Chris Birdsall stopped 36 of 41 shots in the road setback for Youngstown. The Lumberjacks finished the night 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Phantoms were 0-for-4. Griffen Molino led the Lumberjacks’ offensive attack with a goal plus two assists followed by four others in Christian Wolanin (one goal, one assist), Matheson Iacopelli (one goal, one assist), Ryan Siroky (two assists), and Tommy Marchin (two assists) with a pair of points each. Vas Kolias led the Phantoms offense with a goal plus two assists, and Kyle Connor contributed to the cause with a goal and an assist. Muskegon picks up their first playoff victory since April 23rd, 2011 against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at the L.C. Walker Arena (won 5-1) and also earns its first victory this season at the L.C. Walker Arena against the Phantoms.
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