CHOPPING THE LUMBERJACKS: The Muskegon Lumberjacks are undefeated in the 2018-19 season and have posted a 7-0-0-0 record for the top spot in the USHL's Eastern Conference. Team USA and Muskegon split a total of eight games in the 2017-18 season, exiting the cross-state matchups with four wins each.

Lumberjacks point leaders Egor Afanasyev (5G, 4A) and Danil Gushchin (3G, 6A) are tied for the team lead with nine points. Muskegon goaltender Brandon Bussi owns a 1.98 goals against average and .927 save percentage over the course of seven games.

Muskegon earned its seventh win of the season against the Chicago Steel on Friday (Oct. 19) with a 5-3 victory. The contest with the Steel is the last game before the Lumberjacks face the NTDP three consecutive times between Oct. 26 — Nov. 1.

2017-2018 Results/Schedule vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks: Sept. 23, 2017, U18s vs. Muskegon (W, 7-6); Oct. 14, 2017, U18s @ Muskegon (W, 7-0); Dec. 19, 2017, U18s vs. Muskegon (L, 3-6); Dec. 29, 2017, U17s @ Muskegon (L, 3-0); Jan. 15, 2018, U17s vs. Muskegon (W, 8-5); Jan. 27, 2018, U17s @ Muskegon (W, 10-1); Mar. 4, 2018, U17s vs. Muskegon (L, 5-4); Apr. 13, 2018, U17s vs. Muskegon (L, 5-4)

NTDP All-Time Record vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks: 28-38-5 Home: 16-20-3 Road: 12-18-1

DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS: The Fighting Saints have tallied a 4-2-1-1 record in the regular season and occupy the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference. Dubuque finished the 2017-18 season fifth in the conference with a overall record of 26-21-10-3. Team USA went undefeated in its three encounters with the Fighting Saints last season.

The Fighting Saints are led by three forwards with eight points apiece: Ty Jackson (4G, 4A), Riese Gaber (3G, 5A) and Dylan Jackson (3G, 5A). In net for Dubuque, Matthew Thiessen owns a 2.54 goals against average and .907 save percentage across seven games.

Dubuque dropped its latest matchup against the Green Bay Gamblers by a 1-0 final Oct. 21 and will play the Youngstown Phantoms on Oct. 26 before making the trip to USA Hockey Arena for back-to-back matchups against Team USA on Oct. 27-28.

2017-2018 Results/Schedule vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints: Jan. 26, 2018, U17s vs. Dubuque (W, 7-4); Apr. 6, 2018, U17s @ Dubuque (W, 5-4); Apr. 7, 2018, U17s @ Dubuque (W, 5-4)

NTDP All-Time Record vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints: 16-22-1 Home: 9-8-0 Road: 7-14-1