LocalSportsJournal.com

The Muskegon Lumberjacks have struggled away from L.C. Walker Arena lately, losing six of their previous seven road games.LSJ Logo incert

The slump continued Thursday when the Lumberjacks fell to the Team USA Under-18 squad 5-3 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.

Muskegon is now 25-24-7 on the season, good for 57 points and sixth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference with four games remaining.

The Lumberjacks will face the Madison Capitols on the road on Friday and Saturday night.

Team USA was paced by Casey Mittelstadt with two goals, while Clayton Keller added a goal and an assist and Adam Fox chipped in with two assists.

Dante Palecco led the Lumberjacks with two goals while Rem Pitlick continued his offensive tear with a goal and two assists.

Team USA opened the scoring with two first period goals, from Kieffer Bellows at 9:56 and Graham McPhee at the 14:28 mark.

Muskegon responded with a power play goal by Palecco at 18:52 of the first period. Grant Gabriele and Pitlick assisted on the tally.

Team USA regained its two-goal lead with a power play goal 11:22 into the second period.

The Lumberjacks cut their deficit to 3-2 with Pitlick’s 44th goal of the season at 12:38 of the second period. Collin Adams and Bo Hanson assisted.

Mittelstadt added two third period goals for Team USA, at 2:39 and 11:25.

Palecco notched his second goal of the night on a power play at the 7:28 mark of the third period. Adams and Pitlick picked up the assists.

Team USA goaltender Joseph Woll picked up the victory, stopping 18 of 21 shots. Muskegon goalie Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots.