The Muskegon Lumberjacks are suddenly in a dog fight for third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference, following a tough 4-3 loss to the hard-charging Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio.

The Jacks, who have now lost three straight and the first two games of their nine-game road swing, came into the weekend with a five-point lead over Youngstown in the standings.

But after losing to the Phantoms on Friday and Saturday, they are hanging on at third place with 62 points, just one point ahead of Youngstown.

The two teams will complete their three-game weekend series on Sunday, when the Jacks will either hold third place or fall into fourth.

The Jacks lost despite having more than twice as many shots on goal as Youngstown – 37-18. Phantom goalie Jacob Fowler got the win by stopping 34 shots. Muskegon’s Chase Clark stopped 14 of 18.

Youngstown took a 1-0 lead with a goal by Kyle Bettens midway through the first period. Muskegon’s Joey Larson knotted the score with his 30th goal of the season at the 19:35 mark.

The Jacks pulled ahead 2-1 when Owen Mehlenbacher scored at 9:24 of the second period, then Bettens tied the score again with his second goal about a minute and a half later.

Youngstown pulled ahead for good in the third period with goals from Grant Porter and Garrett Wright, at 2:22 and 7:25, respectively.

Muskegon got a late goal from Owen Mehlenbacher, but couldn’t get the equalizer.

Lumberjacks forward Joey Larson, who scored his 30th goal on the season on Saturday.