LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon Lumberjacks continued their red-hot play in the 2022 Clark Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 win over Madison in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday. 
Muskegon’s win at Mercy Health Arena was its fifth straight in the postseason and is now 5-0 in the playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the five-game series with the Capitols.
The Lumberjacks opened up with a 1-0 lead on a Phillip Tresca goal, eight minutes into the contest.
Madison followed up with a Jack Musa goal at the midway point of the first period. Nick DeSantis opened the second period with a goal and a 2-1 lead for the Capitols.
Muskegon answered back with three second period goals and capped off scoring with its final tally in the third period.
Tresca was credited with the official game-winning goal, his second of the night, when he put Muskegon up 3-2 after a David Hymovitch goal tied the score at two apiece.
The two second period goals by Tresca and Hymovitch came two minutes apart before the midway point of the period.
Jacob Guevin gave the Lumberjacks a 4-2 lead with three minutes left in the second period and Joey Larson tacked on one more goal early in the third to close out scoring for Muskegon.
The Lumberjacks defense continued to shine as it has in the Clark Cup Playoffs. Friday night was no different, shutting down all six Madison power plays.
While Muskegon was outshot 39-26 on the night, Chase Clark came through with another stellar performance in goal for the Lumberjacks. Clark stopped 37 Madison shots in his fifth win in the postseason.
Muskegon’s offense was on full display as it had three players with multi-point nights. Tresca finished with a pair of goals, and now has three tallies in the playoffs.
Guevin also came through with his third goal of the playoffs and also added two assists in the win over Madison.
Lumberjack forward Quinn Hutson continued his incredible postseason play, adding a pair of assists. Hutson now has had multi-point performances in all five games in the Clark Cup Playoffs.
Muskegon will again host Madison for Game 2 of the five game series on Saturday night for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.
Check out photos from the win shot by Sondra Workman.
