MUSKEGON — Game 30 of 30 at Trinity Health Arena in the regular season came Saturday night, March 28, between the Muskegon Lumberjacks (36-22-1-1, 74 pts.) and USNTDP Under-18 Team (16-39-3-2, 37 pts.).

A late goal in regulation helped the Lumberjacks force overtime, earning a crucial point in the standings despite falling in the end 5-4 (OT).

Two goals came in the first period, with one on each end of the ice.

The NTDP scored first 6:51 into regulation to take a 1-0 lead.

While on a 3-on-1 rush into the Lumberjacks zone, Sammy Nelson sent a pass to the far side and Jamie Glance.

As fast as the puck was on his stick, it was off it on the way to Parker Trottier on the near side of the ice.

Thanks to the pretty passing, Trottier had a nearly empty net to shoot at for his eighth goal of the season.

The Jacks responded late in the frame with an odd-man rush of their own.

Anthony Thomas-Maroon left the penalty box and immediately found possession in the neutral zone.

Joining Thomas-Maroon on the rush up the ice, Melvin Novotny received a pass on the far side of the slot and fired a shot to the back of the net.

Five more goals came in the second period between the two teams, with the advantage belonging to the NTDP, though it was the Lumberjacks who struck first to take a 2-1 lead.

Chuck Blanchard took a big hit at his own blue line, but cleared the puck down the middle of the ice.

Jack Christ followed up by taking away possession from the NTDP defender and moving into the offensive zone on a breakaway before lifting the puck to the back of the net.

The next two goals belonged to the NTDP.

First, Lukas Zajic put a rebound on the far side of the crease to the back of the net to re-tie the game 2-2 at the 6:52 mark.

Then, Wyatt Cullen sent a shot through the five-hole just under 2 minutes later to give his team a 3-2 lead.

Just over halfway through the period, Carter Sanderson led a rush up the far side of the ice and into the NTDP zone.

Using a screen in the low slot, Sanderson snuck a shot past the goalie for his 17th goal of the season, tying the game 3-3.

Another pretty passing play set up the NTDP for a chance to take the lead back and carry it to the locker room for the second intermission.

Carter Meyer sent a pass from the near side of the ‘Jacks’ zone to Glance, who emphatically fired a one-timer to the back of the net to make it 4-3.

It took nearly the entirety of the third period, but the Lumberjacks tied the game 4-4 with just 1:43 left in regulation.

Adam Beulsko kept the puck in the offensive zone on the far side of the blue line and chipped a shot towards the net that was deflected to the back of the net by Viktor Norringer, sending the crowd at Trinity Health Arena into a frenzy.

After a video review, the goal was confirmed, and the ‘Jacks forced overtime to earn a very important point in the standings.

1:58 into the overtime period, Glance scored his second goal of the game, his third point of the contest, by firing a shot to the back of the net to give the NTDP a 5-4 OT win.

Carl Axelsson (28-13-1-0) earned the overtime loss on his record while making 23 saves on 28 shots against.

Brady Knowling (8-5-0-1) earned the win with 36 saves on 40 shots against.

March 27, USA Hockey NTDP 5, Lumberjacks 3

Friday night kicked off the final homestand of the regular season for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (36-22-0-1, 73 pts.), who took to the ice at Trinity Health Arena against the USA Hockey NTDP Under-18 Team (15-39-3-2, 35 pts.).

Despite a strong effort to come back in the final stages, the ‘Jacks fell to the 18’s 5-3.

Both teams scored within the first five minutes of the game, starting with the Under-18 Team on their first shot of the game just 64 seconds in.

A defensive zone breakdown by the Lumberjacks saw Logan Stuart cause a turnover in the middle of the slot.

Stuart got the puck to the far side, and Victor Plante, who slid a cross-slot pass to the near side, and Jamie Glance for an easy shot at the nearly empty net.

A few moments later, Adam Belusko tied the game with a long shot from the blue line. Chuck Blanchard slid the puck ahead to Ty Bergeron on his way to the offensive zone.

Bergeron crossed the NTDP blue line and hit the brakes at the top of the near side circle before firing a pass to Belusko following the play.

Belusko caught the pass and fired a shot to the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season.

In the second period, only the NTDP scored.

Brayden Willis found the back of the net for the 12th time this season on an odd-man rush up the ice. Nolan Fitzhenry took the puck away from a Lumberjack on the near side wall of his own zone. Fitzhenry slid a pass ahead to Carter Meyer, who carried the puck into the Muskegon end before sending a pass across the slot to Brayden Willis for another easy shot back to the near side of the ‘Jacks’ goal.

Sammy Nelson gave the NTDP a 3-1 lead 3:29 into the third period with his first goal of the game. Again, a defensive zone breakdown led to Willis sending the puck to the low slot from behind the goal, then re-found the puck in the near corner, where he fired a shot.

The initial save was made, but Nelson found the rebound on the far side and tapped it across the goal line for his eighth goal of the year.

Starting to mount a comeback, the Jacks struck to bring the game back to within a single goal with 5:05 left to play in regulation.

Niles Benson held possession on the near side and fired a shot along the goal line. Although his initial attempt didn’t reach the goal, he picked up the puck and carried it behind the net to the far side, where he turned and ripped a shot to the top corner.

Nelson added an empty net goal to regain the NTDP’s 2-goal lead, but the Lumberjacks had another response.

This time, with the net empty and on a power play, Belusko fired a pass from the near side of the blue line to Bergeron parked at the back post.

The duo connected to make the score 4-3 with 56 seconds left to play.

The ‘Jacks pulled their goalie again, and the NTDP scored again.

This time, rather than shooting for the hat trick, Nelson centered a pass to Casey Mutryn at the center ice logo in an unselfish play to ensure the game was put to bed.

Carl Axelsson (28-13-0-0) earned the loss on his record despite a strong performance and 28 saves on 31 shots against.

Brady Knowling (7-5-0-1) was lights out with 43 saves on 46 shots in the winning effort.