LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon Lumberjacks closed out their regular season with a 6-5 loss to visiting Chicago on Saturday night. 
The Lumberjacks loss closes out a successful 33-23-3-3 season that continues on Monday’s start of the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.
Muskegon started Saturday night on fire, getting a pair of goals in the first two minutes of the game. But the Lumberjacks could not hold on to the early lead, letting in four straight Chicago goals between the end of the first and second periods.
Landen McDonald tallied his first career goal for the Lumberjacks just 30 seconds into the game. Phillip Tresca followed 45 seconds later and Muskegon had a 2-0 lead.
Jacob Braccini gave Muskegon a 3-1 lead on an assist from Tresca and Owen Mehlenbacher put the Lumberjacks up 4-2 with three minutes left in the opening period.
Unfortunately for Muskegon, Chicago was able to find the back of the net with a minute left in the opening 20 minutes and then scored three unanswered goals in the second.
Ethan Whitcomb brought Muskegon to within a goal, 6-5, with seven minutes left to play. Natan McBrayer and Mehlenbacher assisted on the play.
Muskegon now enters the Clark Cup Playoffs for a three-game series with Cedar Rapids.
The Lumberjacks face the Roughriders on Monday and Tuesday and hold home-ice advantage after finishing as the third best team in the Eastern Conference this season.
Monday’s puck drop is set for 7 PM at Mercy Health Arena. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.
Check out photos from Muskegon’s final regular season game shot by Sondra Workman.
