USHL Weekend Watch: The Regular-Season Finale Is Here

A look at three key matchups and prospects to keep close tabs on in the regular-season finale

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Steel - USHL Weekend Watch: The Regular-Season Finale Is Here

A look at three key matchups and prospects to keep close tabs on in the USHL's regular-season finale.

Muskegon Vs. Chicago

The Chicago Steel and Muskegon Lumberjacks are set to face each other in a potential first-round matchup of the Clark Cup Playoffs.

While Chicago is locked into the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, Muskegon could potentially secure the No. 2 seed with some help from Green Bay, who sit just two points ahead of the Jacks in the standings.

Muskegon has dominated the regular-season series, leading 5-0-0-0. However, Chicago is looking to salvage a pair of wins against the Lumberjacks going into the postseason.

The Steel have won six of their last ten games in what has been a microcosm of their second half.

Since January 13, Chicago has gone 17-9-2-2. In the first 30 games, the Steel were 10-17-1-2 and occupied last place in the Eastern Conference.

On the other hand, Muskegon is looking to bounce back from a home sweep against the NTDP U18s.

Chicago's Michael Hage (2024) is THN's player to watch in this matchup. The University of Michigan commit has been on fire in the second half of the season, scoring 23 goals and collecting 51 points in only 30 games.

However, Hage has only managed to get four points (all assists) in four games against Muskegon this season. Overall, he ranks third in the USHL with a total of 75 points.

Muskegon's Matvei Gridin (2024) is an undeniable force in the USHL, having claimed the top spot as the league's leading scorer. With an impressive total of 80 points in just 58 games, Gridin could potentially go in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The University of Michigan commit has scored points in six of his last seven games, totaling seven goals and five assists during that stretch. Gridin has played well against Chicago this season, netting two goals and five assists in five games.

Sioux City Vs. Lincoln

Both teams have a strong motivation to win this weekend.

Sioux City has already secured a playoff spot, but they will aim to maintain their lead over the Waterloo Black Hawks to claim the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

By doing so, the Musketeers would earn an important bye to the Conference Semifinals. Currently, the Musketeers are one point ahead of Waterloo in the standings.

Lincoln, on the other hand, is yet to make it to the playoffs and will look to grab the sixth and final spot in the West.

These two teams have faced each other four times this season, and the series is split right down the middle at 2-2-0-0.

The Stars saw their three-game winning streak end on Saturday against Omaha, and they have gone 4-5-1-0 in their last ten games. Meanwhile, Sioux City is coming off a 5-0 victory against Sioux Falls on Sunday and has a record of 5-5-0-0 in their previous ten games.

Kaden Shahan is THN's player to watch for Sioux City and one of the most intriguing re-entry candidates ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. He has been a goal-scoring machine this year, with 39 goals - the second-most in the USHL.

Since the holiday break, the Musketeers forward has 21 goals in 31 games. Moreover, he has performed well against Lincoln, potting four goals and one assist in four games.

Our player to watch on Lincoln is Adam Kleber (2024), who has scored five goals and 26 points in 54 games this season. The big defenseman has also earned two points, both assists, in four games against Sioux City this season.

In an interview earlier this season, Kleber told me that his goal was to score six goals this season. Has two games left to achieve just that.

Madison Vs. Green Bay

The Gamblers are currently holding the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, leading Muskegon by a mere two points.

Although Green Bay has points in seven of its last ten games, they lost two out of three games against Youngstown last weekend. In seven previous meetings against the Capitols this season, the Gamblers have gone 5-2-0-0.

After failing to make the postseason last year, Madison will most likely enter the postseason as the No. 5 seed. The Caps sit seven points ahead of Chicago and four points behind Youngstown.

Madison has performed well in their last ten games, winning seven out of ten. They will aim to win both games against Green Bay and head into the postseason firing on all cylinders.

Julian Lutz (ARI) has been a valuable addition to the Green Bay roster this season, having scored 23 goals and 64 points in 48 games so far.

However, the Arizona Coyotes draft pick has not scored a goal in his last five games and has been without a point in his last three.

Look for him to get back on track against Madison this weekend. Lutz has scored four goals and seven points in six games against the Caps this year.

Austin Burnevik is THN's player to watch on Madison this weekend. The former NTDP forward is another re-entry candidate that will likely hear his name called in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Burnevik has enjoyed a breakout season with the Caps, netting 40 goals and 70 points in 59 games.

Added, the St. Cloud commit has been red-hot down the stretch, tallying 11 goals and 21 points in 15 games dating back to March 1.

Burnevik has performed well in six previous games against the Gamblers this year, potting six goals, including a hat trick, and 10 points.