USHL Madison Capitols

Caps Can't Overcome Late Two-Goal Deficit

November 6, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI - The Madison Capitols (6-5-0) unleashed a rally late in the third period, but the Dubuque Fighting Saints (9-3-0) hung on to capture a 4-3 victory on Friday night at the Alliant Energy Center.

The Capitols, who had scored the game's first goal in each of the first six games of the season but fallen into the habit of falling behind lately, reverted back to their old ways in a quick-moving first period. After a batch of hockey that featured about five minutes without a whistle, Haralds Egle held the puck in at the left point and fed Guillaume Leclerc, who threw a perfect backdoor pass to Sam McCormick on the right post, and McCormick tipped it past Hunter Miska to put Madison on top 1-0 at 12:12.

However, like on opening night, Dubuque would have a response for the Capitols. Just 3:02 after McCormick's opening remark, Dallas Gerads brought Dubuque back even, taking a Gordie Green pass in the slot and rifling a perfect one time snap shot past Ryan Edquist to deadlock the game heading into the first intermission.

The second period began with the goaltenders exchanging ten-bell saves, as Edquist slid to his left to deny a Dubuque one time bid from the right circle with a spectacular left glove save. Not to be outdone, with the score still tied, 1-1, Miska showed he had some flair as well, sprawling and going into a snow-angel on the ice to keep a Charlie Gerard rebound bid out of the net from right on the doorstep.

The only player to find the net in the second was wearing red, though, as Mitchell Smith tipped a slapper from his twin brother, Evan, at 5:46 to put the Fighting Saints into the lead, 2-1.

The Capitols continued to outshoot the Saints, getting 13 attempts at the net in the second period, but Miska had each and every answer, including a denial on Egle from the deep slot with an upright arm maneuver.

The third period saw the offenses awaken with more frequency as Trey Dodd picked up his second in two games against Madison to make it 3-1 at 4:54. Dodd picked up a rebound off an initial shot opportunity by Shane Kavanagh and slammed it home for his fourth of the season.

The Capitols would not go quietly, though, as Egle fed Leclerc off a wrap-around back door pass at 13:12 to cut the lead to 3-2. Egle and Leclerc each finished the night with two points.

However, the Saints ferociously answered in the blink of an eye, as Casey Johnson pinched up to a loose puck in the slot to beat Edquist just 16 seconds later to bump the lead to 4-2.

Miska then stole the show, robbing Leclerc on a perfect back-door feed from Egle once again, sprawling to his left. Even though Gerard was able to beat Miska for his fourth of the season to make it 4-3, there were only 12 seconds remaining, and the Saints were able to survive a final last-ditch effort to preserve the win. Miska finished with 31 saves, while Edquist denied 28 in defeat.

The Capitols will take the remainder of the weekend off before returning to Dubuque to take on the Fighting Saints next Friday at 7:35 p.m. Madison returns home on Saturday, Nov. 14 against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets to upcoming Capitols home games can be purchased by calling (608) 257-CAPS or by visiting www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2015


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