Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening frame. Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) stood tall, saving all 12 shots produced by Muskegon. Chase Yoder (Fairview, Texas) tallied three shots on net but was unable to capitalize to give Team USA the lead.

Just 1:20 into the second period, the Muskegon Lumberjacks netted their first goal of the game, gaining a 1-0 lead.

A short moment later with 3:03 gone on the clock, Faber scored his second goal in two games, cutting Muskegon’s one-goal lead in half. The play started when Dylan Peterson (Roseville, Calif.) played the puck back to Owen Gallatin (Hugo, Minn.), who found Faber with a pass across the blueline.

Within a five minute period, Muskegon tallied three goals, extending its lead to 4-1.

Noah Grannan (Germantown, Wis.) came up big saving a two-on-one Muskegon scoring opportunity after relieving Commesso with 8:57 left in the second period.

With 4:20 left in the middle stanza, Dzhaniyev closed the gap to 4-2 when he stole the puck from a Muskegon defender at the blueline and tucked it away on a breakaway.

Smilanic registered his sixth USHL goal of the season 3:40 into the final frame. Luke Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) passed the puck up to Jacob Truscott (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) who then found Smilanic at the top of the blueline.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks netted three more goals, closing the game with a 7-3 victory.

Commesso played 31:03 and stopped 14 shots on net, while Grannan played 28:57 and made 12 saves in relief.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to USHL play next weekend when they face the Sioux City Musketeers at Tyson Events Center Friday (March 1) and Saturday (March 2). Puck drops at 8:05 p.m. ET for both games.

NOTES: Team USA went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-5 on the power play … The Muskegon Lumberjacks outshot Team USA 33-20. Daniyal Dzhaniyev earned the Hardest Worker Award for Team USA.