The Muskegon Lumberjacks were unable to overcome a bad first period on Friday and fell to the Youngstown Phantoms 6-3 in the opening game of their nine-game, four-weekend road swing.

The Jacks’ loss closed the gap between the two teams in the USHL’s Eastern Conference standings. The Lumberjacks remain in third place, but are now only three points ahead of the fourth-place Phantoms.

The two teams will play again on Saturday and Sunday in Youngstown.

Youngstown jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first period on goals from Garrett Wright, Adam Ingram, Kenta Isogai and Trey Taylor.

Ben Strinden scored late in the first period for Muskegon and Youngstown led 4-1 heading into the second.

The teams both got goals early in the second period, with newcomer Cody Croal scoring for Muskegon, then Youngstown’s Stiven Sardarian answering about 20 seconds later, and the Phantoms led 5-2 after two.

Croal scored again in the third period, then Youngstown’s Tiernan Shoudy capped the scoring with an empty-netter late in the game.

Aleksandr Kuleshov started in goal for the Lumberjacks and stopped 9 of 13 shots before leaving the game late in the first period. Chase Clark finished for Muskegon and stopped 14 of 15 shots.

Owen Mehlenbacher and Jake Richard both had two assists for Muskegon.