Two games into the Clark Cup Final, the clashes in style between Waterloo and Muskegon are becoming evident.

True, both teams have plenty of skill, speed, grit, and physicality. There’s a reason they got this far.

But based on a sample size of two games, it seems the more wide open and frenetic the pace is, the more it favors Waterloo. The more controlled and steady the pace is, it favors Muskegon.

With the scoring chances reduced both ways, the Lumberjacks won 4-1 to pick up a split on the road. The best-of-five series now moves to Muskegon for games three and four this coming weekend.

Saturday’s game two was entertaining just like game one, yet it was a night when a two goal lead felt difficult to overcome, quite the opposite from the previous night, when a four goal lead did not feel safe.

After a scoreless first period, Waterloo opened the scoring early in the second period when Reid Morich finished off a beautiful rush down the right wing by Teddy Mallgrave, taking a perfect pass on the doorstep to makes it 1-0.

A nifty move by Tynan Lawrence on a great feed by Matthew Von Blaricom midway through the second tied the game, and momentum seemed to shift.

Late in the period, David Deputy’s persistence paid off, as he knocked home his own rebound to give the Lumberjacks their first lead of the series.

A power play goal and an empty netter in the final seconds made the final tally 4-1 Muskegon.

If the Lumberjacks struggled to control the pace on the 200x100 foot ice at Young Arena in game one, they seemed to adjust quickly for game two. Waterloo still found a way to create a few chances off the rush, particularly from the right wing, but it was a different story overall than the night before.

The series now shifts to the beautiful eastern shore of Lake Michigan - or as Michiganders tend to call it - the coast. There may be plenty of water near Muskegon, but the frozen kind is the North American standard of 200x85. At a glance, the smaller ice would seem to favor Muskegon, yet when it comes to a gritty game - puck battles, winning faceoffs, physicality - Waterloo is second to none in the league.

A split brings the series back to Waterloo May 20 for a decisive game five. Anything else results in the Clark Cup being awarded Saturday in Muskegon.

This series has been so good, let’s play two (series). Or at least five games.