Local Sports Journal

This time the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ last-minute heroics didn’t produce a victory, but the team earned a crucial point in the race for the last playoff spot.

The Lumberjacks’ Jack Rowe scored with only 13 seconds left in regulation Sunday, forcing an overtime period between Muskegon and the Team USA under-18 squad in Ann Arbor.

The five minute overtime was scoreless, but Team USA won the overtime shootout to claim a 4-3 victory over the Lumberjacks.

It was the third overtime shootout in three nights for the Lumberjacks. They beat Omaha on Friday, then topped Lincoln on Saturday, after Rowe scored two goals within the last two minutes to force overtime.

Sunday’s ending wasn’t quite as happy, but the Lumberjacks gained a point in the standings by tying in regulation. That put them alone in fourth place (the final playoff spot) in the USHL’s Eastern Conference with 63 points.

Green Bay lost to Waterloo Sunday and fell to fifth with 62 points. Team USA has 61 points while Chicago has 60. All four teams have two games remaining in the regular season.

The Lumberjacks play Friday in Chicago and come home Saturday for the regular-season finale against Green Bay.