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USHL Madison Capitols

Caps' Early Burst Foiled by DeAugustine & Phantoms

January 9, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI - The Madison Capitols (12-16-1-2) once again raced out of the gates with three first period goals, but the Youngstown Phantoms (14-10-3-5) received a phenomenal relief appearance and pushed home four unanswered goals to steal a 5-3 win on Saturday at the Alliant Energy Center. On a night where the Capitols honored Miracle on Ice defenseman Bob Suter, the first period featured little in the way of defensive excellence, as the two clubs combined for five tallies on just eighteen total shots on net.

Youngstown opened up the festivities and snapped Garrett Metcalf's shutout streak that dated back to the third period last Saturday. After the Capitols coughed up a puck deep in the defensive zone, Patrick Kramer parked himself on the right side post and jammed it through Metcalf at 2:50 to make it 1-0 Phantoms.

The lead would not last long, though, as the Capitols did their best impression of the "Miracle on Ice" team, playing the role of comeback specialists. Daniel Willett held onto a puck at the right circle and fired a wrist shot into a maze of traffic that eluded Ryan Bednard to tie the score, 1-1, at 3:57. It was Willett's first goal dating back to Oct. 9.

The game would be tied for all of 23 seconds before the newest Capitol made his grand entrance. Tyson McLellan pick-pocketed Phantoms defense Kris Myllari deep in the offensive end of the ice, then slid a pass from the left wing corner in front of the cage. Marcel Godbout came screaming down the center lane and jabbed a quick one-time snapper into the top shelf for his first goal as a Capitol to make it 2-1 at 4:20.

The Center Line, Mich. native was nowhere near finished, however. Just under six minutes later, Godbout used his speed to pilfer a loose puck in the neutral zone, shoot down the right wing side in alone on Bednard, and beat the goalie to the backhand for his second of the period to make it 3-1 at 10:16.

Bednard's night was brought to a close with the second Godbout goal, and the switch paid dividends for John Wroblewski's club, as Alex Esposito was able to poke a centering pass into the net behind Metcalf just 15 seconds later to make it 3-2 at the 10:31 mark of the opening period. The defenses finally steadied at that point, and the final nine minutes of the period played out in a scoreless fashion.

Colin DeAugustine became the storyline in the second period for Youngstown, as the goalie who began his night on the bench came up with huge save after huge save to keep Madison stuck on three goals. He turned aside McLellan on a breakaway before also denying Brody Stevens and McElhenie on an odd-man break as well.

DeAugustine's heroics bought the time for his offense to regain its footing, and Eric Esposito's first goal of the season deadlocked the score, 3-3, at the 10:31 mark. Esposito pursued a puck in the right wing corner and successfully played a game of pinball, banking the puck off a Capitol and through Metcalf's legs to tie the score.

After the Capitols could not strike on a handful of other odd-man rushes, the Phantoms picked up a huge final-minute marker. James Winkler used his 6-foot-3 inch frame to walk around the Capitols net and shield the puck from three defenders. From there, Tommy Apap sneaked to the right post and slammed the slow-rolling puck past Metcalf to restore the Youngstown lead, 4-3.

DeAugustine continued to be the storyline of the night in a relief appearance for the ages. Armed with a two-man advantage, the Phantoms still managed to give up a clean shorthanded breakaway to Ryan Lohin, but DeAugustine made the arm save, and the Capitols would not get any closer. Yushiroh Hirano would provide some extra insurance for the Phantoms at the 18:15 mark of the third period off a feed from the USHL's top point-getter Cameron Morrison.

Metcalf made 31 saves in the loss for the Capitols, who are now 1-1-0-0 on their season long seven-game homestand.

The Capitols will take Sunday off before returning to the Coliseum for a three-game weekend set next Friday through Sunday, Jan. 15-17. The Capitols will welcome Chicago, Green Bay, and Cedar Rapids respectively.

Friday's tilt against the Steel marks another WJJO $1 Beer Night at the Coliseum. Tickets to all upcoming Capitols home games can be purchased by calling (608) 257-CAPS (2277) or by visiting www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2016


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