Major Junior

Lumberjacks, Carter Sanderson Try To Avoid Sweep As Series Turns To Muskegon

The Muskegon Lumberjacks lost 3-1 in Game 1 of the Clark Cup Final to the Sioux Falls Stampede. Carter Sanderson went without a point in the loss. The Lumberjacks fell 3-0 in Game 2.

The series continues in Muskegon on Friday night with the Lumberjacks looking to generate some offense and avoid the sweep.

AHL

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Face Deciding Game 5 After Split With Springfield

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins held on for a 2-1 win over the Springfield Falcons to take a 2-1 series lead in the Atlantic Division Final on Tuesday night. Rutger McGroarty scored shorthanded, and Bill Zonnon scored for a third consecutive game since joining the team at the start of the series. Avery Hayes, Boko Imama, and Atley Calvert all finished with assists. Sergei Murashov stopped 27 shots in the win.

The Penguins appeared to take the lead in Game 4 after a beautiful play resulted in Harrison Brunicke finding the back of the net, but officials overturned the goal due to goaltender interference. Springfield scored twice to force a deciding Game 5 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night. Murashov stopped 30 shots in the loss.

ECHL

Wheeling Nailers Win Games 6 And 7 In North Division Final, Advance To Eastern Conference Final

Emil Pieniniemi scored in overtime for the Wheeling Nailers to force Game 7 against the Maine Mariners on Saturday night. Nolan Renwick scored the other Wheeling goal. Zach Urdahl recorded a pair of assists, and Brayden Edwards finished with a helper. Taylor Gauthier stopped 31 of 32 shots in the win.

In Game 7, the Nailers beat the Mariners 4-3 to win the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in a decade. Tanner Andrew scored and added a helper. Matthew Quercia, Mathieu De St. Phalle, and Urdahl scored the other Wheeling goals. Pieniniemi recorded a pair of assists. Brent Johnson, Edwards, and Ryan McAllister all finished with helpers. Gauthier stopped 27 shots in the win.

The Nailers face the Florida Everblades with a spot in the Kelly Cup Final on the line starting Friday night in Ft. Myers. The Everblades finished in first place in the Eastern Conference and second place in the ECHL during the regular season with a 49-13-7 record. The teams never met during the regular season, but the Everblades lost a regular season series 2-1 to the Maine Mariners in February.