The first round of the 2025 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs begin this week, with three of the four matchups getting underway Monday night.
The opening round is a best-of-three series, with all games played at the higher seed’s home rink on consecutive nights.
Here’s what to watch for in Game 1 action on Monday night.
Eastern Conference
#5 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at #4 Muskegon Lumberjacks
Game 1: Monday, Apr. 14, 7:10 Pm ET (Trinity Health Arena, Muskegon)
Game 2: Tuesday, Apr. 15, 7:10 Pm ET
Game 3: Wednesday, Apr. 16, 7:10 Pm ET
Cedar Rapids ended the season 26-34-2-3 (59 points), fifth in the East. They were led in scoring by Amine Hajibi (20-34-54) and Daniel Astapovich (21-26-47). Goalie A.J. Reyelts posted a mark of 21-19-1, 2.66 GAA, .890 SP.
The Lumberjacks swept the regular-season series against Cedar Rapids 4-0, but all the games were close: 2-1, 4-2 at Cedar Rapids; 3-1, 2-1 at Muskegon.
Muskegon finished the regular season 38-16-4-4 (84 points), just two points off the Eastern Conference lead.
David Deputy (21-36-57) and Tynan Lawrence (25-29-54) led the Jacks in scoring. Goaltender Stephen Peck posted a 19-6-2 record with a 2.43 goals-against average and .909 save percentage, while Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev had a 19-10-2 mark, 2.68 GAA and .909 SP.
#6 Green Bay Gamblers vs. #3 Madison Capitols
Game 1: Monday, Apr. 14, 7:05 Pm CT (Bob Suter’s LEGACY20 Arena, Madison)
Game 2: Tuesday, Apr. 15, 7:05 Pm ET
Game 3: Wednesday, Apr. 16, 7:05 Pm ET
The Gamblers have shown strength on the power play in their wins against Madison. Goaltending and strong defense have been issues, as shown in an 8-5 loss to Madison in February.
This is the Capitols’ first time as a higher seed in a playoff series since rejoining the USHL in 2014. They took the season series with Green Bay 5-3-1-0, including three consecutive victories to close the series; 3-1-0-0 at home.
Madison comes into the post-season having lost to the Dubuque Fighting Saints in overtime to close out the regular season.
Expect a high-tempo, physical series with momentum swings.
Western Conference
#6 Tri-City Storm vs. #3 Waterloo Black Hawks
Game 1: Monday, Apr. 14, 6:35 Pm CT (Young Arena, Waterloo)
Game 2: Tuesday, Apr. 15, 6:35 Pm CT
Game3: Wednesday, Apr. 16, 6:35 Pm CT
Tri-City (29-29-4, 62 points) is set to make its seventh consecutive postseason appearance and 17th in the last 25 seasons.
The Storm finished the regular season at or above the .500 mark for the eighth consecutive year. Tri-City comes off a home-and-home series split against the Lincoln Stars.
Waterloo (34-18-10, 78 points) makes its fourth straight post-season appearance. The Black Hawks finished the regular season with three straight wins, ending with a 5-0 Saturday home victory against Omaha.
The Capitols are the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed for the second consecutive year.
The Black Hawks collected five standings points to Tri-City’s four across the regular season series. Each contest was won by the visiting team.
The clubs’ last postseason clash was the 2016 Western Conference Final. Tri-City took the series 3-2 after defeating the Hawks 5-3 in a decisive Game 5 at Viaero Center.