MUSKEGON – You could just tell how much the Muskegon Lumberjacks wanted to win again on Saturday night.

After Friday’s big victory over red-hot Dubuque, which broke a three-game losing streak, the Jacks very much wanted to complete a weekend sweep and get back in high gear.

Forward Owen Mehlenbacher made sure that happened when he scored a power play goal at 11:32 of the third period, giving the Lumberjacks an exciting 4-3 victory over the Fighting Saints at Mercy Health Arena.

The Lumberjacks are now 27-17-6 on the season, good for 60 points and third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference race.

They are seven points behind Dubuque in the Eastern Conference standings and eight points behind Chicago. The Jacks knocked the Fighting Saints down to second place by beating then on Friday.

Muskegon’s Tyler Dunbar races for the puck. Photo/Tonya Pardon

The Lumberjacks will end their six-game homestand next weekend with a pair of games against the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday and Saturday night. Muskegon will then finish the regular season by playing 9 of its last 10 games on the road.

Saturday’s game was a battle from start to finish, with the Jacks taking a two-goal lead, Dubuque tying the score, Muskegon pulling ahead by one, Dubuque tying the game again, and then Mehlenbacher settling matters with his power play goal midway through the third period.

He popped in a rebound in front of the net off a shot by Jake Richard.

The game-winning goal was the Lumberjacks’ lone score in five power play chances, while Dubuque went 1-for-4 with a man advantage.

“That was a big one – we really needed that one,” Mehlenbacher said after the game. “We got a power play with 10 minutes left and we knew we had to take advantage and capitalize on it.”

The Lumberjacks’ Nathan McBrayer tries to stick handle past an opponent. Photo/Tonya Pardon

Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton was pleased to see his team keep fighting until the weekend sweep was completed.

“We were determined to win that one,” he said. “It was a big weekend for us. We were in a spin a little bit, and going against a first place team, and we were not quite sure what to expect. I love how the guys responded.

“This gives them a smile on their faces. Now we need to build on it and not give it back next weekend against Green Bay.”

The Lumberjacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a couple of first period goals.

Gavin McCarthy opened the scoring with his second goal of the season at the 12:02 mark. Joey Larson increased the Lumberjacks’ advantage with a tally just over two minutes later, giving Muskegon a 2-0 lead after one period.

Dubuque had a chance to get on the board midway through the second period with a breakaway opportunity, but Muskegon goaltender Aleksandr Kuleshov stopped Max Montes to keep the score 2-0.

The Lumberjacks’ Quinn Hutson moves into the Dubuque zone with the puck. Photo/Tonya Pardon

The Fighting Saints finally scored with a goal from Stephen Halliday at 17:19 of the second period, then his teammate Tristan Lemyre added a goal about a minute later, and the game was tied 2-2 at the second intermission.

The Lumberjacks regained their advantage with a goal from Phil Tresca 2:38 into the third period to take a 3-2 lead. The Fighting Saints responded at the 6:49 mark on Lemyre’s second goal of the contest to tie the score 3-3.

Mehlenbacher’s dramatic goal finally settled the issue.

Muskegon outshot the Fighting Saints by a 35-24 margin. Kuleshov stopped 21 of 24 shots on net to get his second win in two nights.

It was a great weekend for Kuleshov, who wasn’t even expected to play after being injured in a home game last Friday.

“We didn’t even know if Sasha (Kuleshov) was going to play, then to have him play the way he did was a huge plus,” Hamilton said. “He made a huge save on that breakaway to keep it 2-0.”