USHL Madison Capitols

Caps Close out Pre-Holiday Slate with Green Bay

Published on December 19, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Green Bay, WI - The Madison Capitols (9-13-1-2) will seek their tenth victory of the season on Saturday as they visit the Green Bay Gamblers (15-9-0-1) at the Resch Center for a 7 p.m. puck drop.

Through four regular season meetings, the Wisconsin Cheese Cup series is tied up at two games apiece. The home team has won each of the four meetings, the last of which saw the Gamblers prevail 3-0 on Dec. 11 at the Resch Center behind a shutout performance by goaltender Adam Huska.

Garrett Metcalf (Salt Lake City, Utah) got the Capitols back to winning ways on Friday on home ice after being pressed into heavy-duty service in the opening period against the Lincoln Stars. Metcalf's 18 saves in the first 20 minutes allowed his team to get up off the mat, and in the late stages of the second, the turnaround began.

Charlie Gerard got the Caps back within a goal with a dash down the center lane. Picking up a puck in the neutral zone, the Minnesota State commit split the Stars' defense before deking to the backhand and beating Virtanen for his tenth goal of the season. The goal came just 37 seconds after Wyse had made it 2-0, and Madison got the score down to 2-1 heading into the second intermission break.

The Capitols used the Gerard goal as a springboard into a third period that rivaled the best stretches they have played in team history. After receiving yet another power play chance, their sixth of the night, the Capitols finally broke through. After Lincoln was caught with too many men on the ice, Phil Beaulieu launched a point rocket that was tipped by Sam McCormick. After hitting the post, McCormick cleaned up the miss to tie the game, 2-2, at 10:12.

Just 52 seconds later, Alex "Sasha" Payusov then completed a move so advanced and mind-boggling that it left the Alliant Energy Center crowd in pandemonium. After picking up the puck on the right side wall, he deked to the slot, spun around to his backhand, and feathered a pass behind his body to McCormick, who slammed it home at 11:04 to make it 3-2.

The Quebec native was far from finished, though. After Metcalf held down the 3-2 score by making the last of his 38 stops, Payusov then played a Beaulieu bank shot off the end glass to beat Virtanen on a power play with 1:30 to play to round out the 4-2 final score.

The Gamblers have taken advantage of a home-heavy portion of their schedule, winning each of their last three games, including a 3-1 win on Friday night against the Chicago Steel. Huska watched as Kevin Reich picked up Green Bay's win on Friday, making 22 saves. Huska has completed back-to-back shutouts in his last two outings and has allowed just one goal dating back to Dec. 6.

The Slovakian netminder leads the USHL in both goals against average (1.85) and save percentage (.942). Huska has allowed more than two goals in a start just once since Nov. 14, but it was against the Capitols in a 4-3 loss on Nov. 28 at the Alliant Energy Center.

The Capitols will return home following the holiday break to play host to the Dubuque Fighting Saints one final time in the 2015-16 season on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7:05 p.m. Family Four Packs are back for this one, as a family can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and four bags of chips for just $48.

Family Four Packs are only available when purchased in advance and will not be available on game day. To purchase yours, call (608) 257-CAPS (2277) or visit www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2015


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