The Muskegon Lumberjacks played a desperate Madison Capitols squad that was fighting to keep its season alive on Tuesday, and the result was not shocking.

The Jacks fell 3-1 to the Capitols in Madison, leaving the USHL Eastern Conference championship series tied at 2-2, with the fifth and deciding game slated for Thursday night in Muskegon at 7 p.m.

The winner of Thursday’s game will advance to the Clark Cup finals against the Sioux City Musketeers, who defeated Tri-City in the Western Conference finals. The loser will be done for the season.

The Lumberjacks will be trying to win their first Eastern Conference title since 2015. They have never won the Clark Cup.

Fans who turn out for Thursday’s game in Muskegon will get a big bargain, because tickets for all seats have been reduced to $5, and all season-ticket holders will get in free.

Tuesday’s game was life-or-death for Madison, which lost to the Lumberjacks in overtime on Monday and trialed in the series 2-1.

After a scoreless first period, Madison scored three unanswered goals in the second period, from Nick DeSantis just 21 seconds into the period, along with Ben Dexheimer at 5:24 and Quinn Finley at 18:24.

The Lumberjacks got a goal from Quinn Hutson at 11;51 of the third period but couldn’t get any closer.

Madison made Muskegon’s bid for a comeback more difficult by outshooting the Jacks 19-7 in the third period.

Muskegon goalie Chase Clark took the loss despite stopping 35 of 38 shots. Madison goalie Simon Latkoczy stopped 22 of 23 shots.