Men's Ice Hockey | 4/24/2026 8:35:54 PM
Dubuque Fighting Saints 5, Muskegon Lumberjacks 2 | VIDEO RECAP
(Dubuque leads series 2–1)
Gavin Lock netted a goal late in the second period and added an assist to help the Dubuque Fighting Saints pull away for a 5–2 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Friday night. With the win, the Fighting Saints take a 2–1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Dubuque struck first early in the opening frame. Michael Barron received a stretch pass and buried his third goal of the postseason at the 4:20 mark to give the Fighting Saints a 1–0 lead.
The second period saw a flurry of activity, starting with Caden Dabrowski’s first of the playoffs to double the Dubuque lead. Muskegon answered back less than two minutes later when Viktor Norringer beat the goaltender to cut the deficit to one. However, Lock restored the two-goal cushion with just 17 seconds remaining in the period.
The Fighting Saints extended their lead early in the third period as Xavier Lieb capitalized on a cross-ice setup from Lock just 3:26 into the frame.
Muskegon attempted a late comeback, with Jack Christ scoring on a wrister from the high slot at 15:02 to make it 4–2, but Masun Fleece iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final seconds to secure the win.
Vojtech Hambalek picked up the win in net for the Saints, turning aside 35-of-37.
Youngstown Phantoms 4, Madison Capitols 2 | VIDEO RECAP
(Madison leads series 2-1)
Matouš Kucharcík broke a third-period deadlock to propel the Youngstown Phantoms to a 4–2 win over the Madison Capitols on Friday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite the loss, Madison still holds a 2-1 series lead.
After a scoreless opening frame where Madison held a 10–5 shot advantage, the two teams traded quick strikes in the second. John Stout put the Capitols on the board just 32 seconds into the period on a backdoor tap-in, but Ryan Rucinski answered for Youngstown only 27 seconds later to tie the game at 1–1.
The back-and-forth action continued late in the period. Jackson Nevers reclaimed the lead for Madison at 18:53 on a wrister from the slot, but Richard Žemlicka responded for the Phantoms at 19:23 to tie the game.
Youngstown took control in the third, outshooting Madison 11–8. Kucharcík found the back of the net at 13:16 off a setup from Matej Teply to give the Phantoms their first lead of the night.
Jack Hextall iced the game with an empty-netter with 20 seconds remaining to secure the win.
Tobias Trejbal earned the win in goal, stopping 21 of 23 shots for Youngstown.
Lincoln Stars 6, Sioux Falls Stampede 2 | VIDEO RECAP
(Lincoln leads series 2–1)
Kade Kohanski struck twice on the power play as part of a three-point night to lead the Lincoln Stars to a 6–2 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday. With the victory, the Stars move ahead 2–1 in the Western Conference Semifinals and sit just one win away from advancing.
Lincoln’s special teams told the story early. Cooper Williams opened the scoring on the man advantage midway through the first, followed by an even-strength tally from John Hirschfeld to go up 2-0 after the opening 20 minutes.
The Stars' power play continued to feast in the second period. Kohanski notched back-to-back goals on the man advantage to break the game open. Thomas Zocco finally put Sioux Falls on the board late in the frame with a power-play goal of his own, but the Stampede still trailed 4–1 after two periods.
Alex Pelletier added Lincoln's fourth power-play goal of the night at 7:12 of the third, and Evan Malkhassian iced the game with a shorthanded, empty-net goal at 12:22. While Markus Jakobsen added a late consolation goal for Sioux Falls, the deficit was too great to overcome.
Charles Menard turned aside 57 of 59 shots in net for Lincoln.
Fargo Force 3, Sioux City Musketeers 2 (2OT) | VIDEO RECAP
(Fargo wins series 3-1)
Gavin Uhlenkamp buried the game-winner in the second overtime period to lift the Force past Sioux City 3–2 Friday night. With the win, Fargo advances to the Western Conference Final.
Sioux City jumped out to an early lead just 3:57 into the game when Gavin Garry netted his third of the postseason. Fargo responded late in the frame, as Saxton Tess scored in the low slot to knot the score at 1–1.
The Force grabbed its first lead of the night in the second period while shorthanded, as Nate Delladonna capitalized on a Musketeer turnover at 6:51. Sioux City found the equalizer at 16:41 when William Tomko scored on an incredible backhander coming from below the net to tie the game, 2-2.
Neither side could find the back of the net in the third period or first overtime session, despite Fargo outshooting the Musketeers 11–4 in the first extra frame.
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimSunday's action across the USHL featured strong team performances, milestone moments, and physical play from start to finish. Four games highlighted the afternoon slate, with offensive surges and steady goaltending shaping the outcomes.