Last Second Goal Forces Overtime. Jacks Seal Comeback with 3-2 OT Win Over Youngstown
USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks

Last Second Goal Forces Overtime. Jacks Seal Comeback with 3-2 OT Win Over Youngstown

Published on October 3, 2025 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release


MUSKEGON, MI - There was no shortage of excitement inside Trinity Health Arena on Friday night as the top two teams in the USHL, the Muskegon Lumberjacks (5-0-0-0, 10 pts.) and Youngstown Phantoms (4-0-1-0, 9 pts.) took to the ice against each other for the first time this season. A game-tying goal in the final second of the game from Jack Christ (Chaska, MN) gave the Jacks the opportunity to win the game in overtime 3-2.

Entering Friday night's action, Carl Axelsson (Danderyd, SWE) and Tobias Trejbal ranked as two of the top netminders in the USHL, leading the way for what was expected to be a goaltending duel. A duel is exactly what fans were treated to with big saves on both sides of the ice all game long.

The Jacks were the first to find the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead. Gustas Zemaitis (Barrington, IL) buried his first USHL goal 15:36 into the period. Lars Hutson (North Barrington, IL) pinched down the far side wall and wrapped the puck around the boards to the near side corner. Anthony Thomas-Maroon (St. Louis, MO) met the puck in the corner and won a battle across from a Phantom defenseman before sliding a pass to the low slot for Zemaitis. A quick-release one-timer beat Trejbal to make it 1-0.

Both goals in the second period belonged to the Phantoms. First, just 1:04 into the period, Malachi McKinnon slid a pass backdoor for Evan Jardine to redirect across the goal line. McKinnon's assist gives him his USHL-leading 7th point of the season. Six minutes later, Jack Hextall cashed in a rebound loose in the blue paint for his third goal of the season after an initial shot from Jack Hamilton at the blue line.

Sensing the need for a change in momentum, Thomas-Maroon brought the physicality to another level with a big hit on the near side of the ice. The hit led to a fight where Thomas-Maroon ended up on top of his opponent, getting the fans and Lumberjacks players up to their feet.

The momentum paid off in the final minute of the game when the Jacks scored to tie the game and force overtime. The play leading up to the goal started with a trio of blocked shots in the Jacks' end of the ice. Carter Sanderson (Pierre, SD), Christ, and Adam Belusko (Kosice, SVK) each blocked a shot, keeping the Jacks' hopes alive.

With just 9 seconds left in regulation, Christ made his way out of the Lumberjacks' zone with the puck on his stick. While he moved up the near side of the ice, Christ entered the offensive zone and cut towards the middle of the ice. Christ fired a shot from the far side of the slot that beat Trejbal under the glove with under one second before the buzzer.

Looking to win the game, the Lumberjacks possessed the puck in the Youngstown end for most of the overtime period. Sanderson got the puck on the near side of the zone from Christ and lowered his shoulder as he cut towards the net. Sanderson muscled a shot to the back of the net for his third goal of the season, and to give the Jacks the 3-2 OT win.

Axelsson (4-0-0-0) earned the win with 27 saves on 29 shots against. Trejbal (2-0-1-0) made numerous highlight reel saves but earned the OT loss on his record with 24 saves on 27 shots against.

Tomorrow evening, the teams take to the ice at Trinity Health Arena at 6 p.m. to close the two-game weekend series. You won't want to miss the action. Get your tickets at muskegonlumberjacks.com or catch the game on FloHockey, the official live stream partner of the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2025


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