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USHL Madison Capitols

Capitols Prepare for Tilt with Dubuque in Home-And-Home Series

February 24, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Coming off of a four-game home stand, the Capitols are set to split hosting duties for a two-game series with the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday and Saturday. A split is exactly what has came from the past two series for the Capitols. Madison has dropped the first game in each of the past two series with Muskegon and Omaha. The Capitols are set to face off against Dubuque for the first time since early November and the first time at home since the home opener on the last day of September.

Madison will take the hosting duties in the second of the two game set against the Saints. Tickets are still available for the team's Jersey Night at tickets.madcapshockey.com. The first 250 people through the doors with a jersey on will receive a Caps scarf. Later on in the night, there will be a Best Jersey In Town Contest, which will have a tremendous prize attached.

CAPS NOTES

Madison's two most recent wins have come on the back of tremendous goaltending in net. Combined over the two wins, the Capitols backstops were able to get in front of 66 of 68 shots on net. The one goal allowed by Kucenski against Muskegon and Elias against Omaha set a season best in goals allowed by a Capitols goaltender. The Caps are still looking to find the team's first shutout of the season, and the opponent for this weekend has struggled recently to find the back of the net offensively.

The 100 games played mark has been hit by a handful of Capitols over the past couple of weeks. Ethan Elias, Brendan Lamb, and Matt McGroarty are the players to accomplish that feat. For Lamb and McGroarty, they have both played in 100+ games with the Capitols over the past two seasons. Elias played the majority of his games with the Omaha Lancers last season.

The Caps have relied on scoring from the blue line as of late. In both of Madison's most recent wins, it was a pair of goals from the defenders on the team to help clinch victory. On Feb. 11 against Muskegon, a game- winning goal from Ethan Elias and an empty-netter from Jordan Gudridge proved to be the difference. Then, on Feb. 18 against Omaha, Jan Olenginski scored the game's opening goal. Later in the game, Trey Ausmus scored the game-winner in the third.

After being acquired from Des Moines earlier this season, Andrew Kuzma has really shown that Madison has won the deal. Kuzma had recorded no points in five games with Des Moines prior to joining the Caps in late October but has shined with Madison. He has recorded 18 points in 30 games with the Caps. His 18 points include five points in the team's most recent four-game home stand, which he brings in a four-game point streak into the weekend.

SCOUTING DUBUQUE

Dubuque comes into the weekend with a record of 20-17-3-1 on the season, which puts them in a tie for fifth place in the conference with Cedar Rapids. Although, the Saints are currently occupying one of the six playoff spots in the East, Dubuque comes into the weekend with a three-game losing streak. Over that stretch, the Saints have averaged just one goal per game while giving up an average of four per game.

Luckily for Dubuque, goaltending from their number one, Marcus Brannman, has been a positive for the majority of the season. Even in a loss last Saturday in Youngstown, the Swedish product only allowed one goal. Brannman has recorded four shutouts in 26 games played this season. He has only played in a portion of one game against Madison this season back on Sept. 30th when he came in relief for Paxton Geisel. He stopped all eight of Madison's shots on net in his one period of work.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 pm on both Friday and Saturday night. Both games will be streamed on FloHockey. If you can't catch the game live, make sure to follow along on our social media pages @MadCapsHockey. Just a reminder to wear your jersey on Saturday night to the game to bring home a Caps scarf and have an opportunity to take home the grand prize.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2023


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