MUSKEGON, Mich. — When the Muskegon Lumberjacks clinched a spot in the postseason, their next goal was to get a bye in the playoffs.
That mission was accomplished this past weekend.
"It's exciting," Lumberjacks head coach Parker Burgess said. "I am really proud of our players and organization. It has been a long season and a really good season so for it to go all the way to Game 62 and for the players to get rewarded for all of their hard work and get a little bit of extra rest to not play in that first round is awesome."
However, the Jacks still do not know who they will face off with in their first game of the postseason on Saturday night.
"I don't really think we are worried about the opponent," Lumberjacks forward David Klee said. "I think we know that if we play our game, we can beat anybody in the league. I think it's about playing our best hockey."
Muskegon will get the winner of the three-game series between the Chicago Steel and the Green Bay Gamblers.
The Jacks are 8-1 against the Steel this season while going just 1-3-2 against the Gamblers.
Regardless of who travels to the Port City for postseason hockey, Muskegon is ready for whoever they will meet in the playoffs.
"It doesn't matter who is going to play against us," Lumberjacks goalie Shikhabudtin Gadzhiev said. "Our goal is to win and go to the finals and win the Clark Cup. It doesn't matter who is going to be against us. Our goal and our plan is to win the Clark Cup."
The Lumberjacks will find out who their playoff opponent will be on Wednesday night. The first postseason game will be Saturday night at the Trinity Health Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:10 p.m.
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