MUSKEGON - Punch and counter-punch was the story of a winner-take-all game three, but the Chicago Steel scored in overtime to end the Jacks’ season, 5-4, at LC Walker Arena on Wednesday.
Despite two-goal nights from Marc Del Gaizo and Vincent de Mey, Muskegon fell in the series two games to one.
After a scoreless first period it was the Jacks that got a power play less than three minutes into the second period. Great movement led to a shot from the right side that produced a juicy rebound for defenseman Marc Del Gaizo. Del Gaizo had a wide open net to shoot at and he made it count to give Muskegon the 1-0 lead.
The Lumberjack lead lasted less than a minute, however, when a long shot from the point produced a rebound in front of goaltender Keegan Karki that was tapped home off the rebound by Steel forward Baker Shore to tie the game 1-1.
Chicago got their first lead of the night just 63 seconds later off a breakaway that made it 2-1. But Marc Del Gaizo tied the game up after he received a quick pass from Benito Posa on the far right point, made a great fake to lose his defender, then sent a hard wrister that deflected off the post and past Chicago netminder Oskar Autio (48 saves).
In the third period the Steel took an early 3-2 lead, but de Mey answered back with the first of back-to-back goals that gave Muskegon the 4-3 lead with 5:50 left in regulation. However, Chicago roared back to force overtime with 4:06 to go.
Muskegon began the overtime session with 1:52 of carry-over power play time, and generated several great chances, but the Jacks were unable to beat Autio.
After the Jacks’ power play expired, the Steel went on their fourth power play of the night. Chicago’s vaunted man advantage was held in check by Muskegon all night, but it finally broke through in overtime.
Aaro Vidgren was able to tuck the puck into the net off a goalmouth scramble to give the defending champions the series win and the right to play Team USA in the Eastern Conference semifinal. The Steel became the first team in USHL history to rally from down 0-1 and win a three-game, first round series.
The Jacks will now look ahead to the USHL draft that runs from May 7-8. Having already agreed to a tender with Alex Gaffney, the Jacks will add weapons around the young forward, and a stable of returners who will bring experience into 2018-19.
Muskegon finishes the 2017-18 season with a 33-25-2 record and a 1-2 record in the postseason.
Muskegon goals: Marc Del Gaizo (1,2), Vincent de Mey (1,2)
Muskegon assists: Anthony Del Gaizo (1), Mikael Hakkarainen (1), Posa (1), Jachym Kondelik (2), Marc Del Gaizo (2), Egor Afanasyev (2), Colby Bukes (2)