The Clark Cup Playoffs have moved into the conference finals, with four teams left in the race to secure the coveted trophy.

The Eastern and Western Conference Finals both begin play on Friday. Here’s what to look for in the Eastern Conference Finals.

ECF Schedule

Game 1: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #2 Dubuque Fighting Saints – Friday, April 25, 7:05 p.m. CT

Game 2: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #2 Dubuque Fighting Saints – Saturday, April 26, 7:05 p.m. CT

Game 3: #2 Dubuque Fighting Saints at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks – Tuesday, April 29, 7:10 p.m. ET

Game 4: #2 Dubuque Fighting Saints at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks – Wednesday, April 30, 7:10 p.m. ET*

Game 5: #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks at #2 Dubuque Fighting Saints – Saturday, May 3, 7:05 p.m. CT*

*If necessary

We Meet Again

The Fighting Saints and Lumberjacks have been in this spot before. The two teams met in last season’s conference finals, with Dubuque advancing to the Clark Cup Final before falling to the Fargo Force.

During the 2024-25 regular season, the Saints and Jacks met in two separate two-game series. They split regulation wins in November in Muskegon before splitting two games that went into overtime at Dubuque in March.

The Saints have home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, with games 1, 2 and 5 (if necessary) in Dubuque.

Special Teams Savvy

The power play has been especially potent for the Saints this post-season, having converted 50% (6-of-12) on power-play opportunities. Their penalty-kill is even more impressive at 100% (10-of-10).

The Goalies Say No

In net, Liam Beerman allowed just five goals over four games against the Madison Capitols. He posted a .951 save percentage in the Conference Semifinals.

Getting Offensive

Lucas Van Vliet scored six points for Dubuque (2-4-6) in the four Conference Semifinals games against Madison.

The Saints are especially tough in one-goal outcomes. They went 24-7-1-2 in those situations during the regular season, and posted a 10-1 record in overtime contests.

Back On Familiar Ground

Muskegon is back in the Conference Finals for the fifth time in the last six post-seasons. The Jacks did not have the luxury of a first-round bye as the Saints did. They dispatched the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in three games in the first round before sweeping the Youngstown Phantoms in the Conference Semifinals. The team has played a total of eight games over 12 days since the final weekend of the regular season.

Getting Defensive

Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev and Stephen Peck, both gave the Jacks a strong presence in net, with  each logging .908 save percentages during the regular season.

The Jacks had the third-best defense in the USHL during the regular season, allowing just 2.81 goals per game.

The Deputy Is On Patrol

Since acquiring David Deputy and Ivan Ryabkin mid-season, the Jacks’ offense has found a higher gear. Deputy tallied 41 points in 38 games with Muskegon, while Ryabkin totaled 30 over 27 games. During the regular season, the Jacks averaged 3.74 goals per game.

In the playoffs, Deputy leads the league in scoring with six goals in as many games. He scored at least three points in the last two games.