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USHL Madison Capitols

Caps' Miraculous Comeback Bid Just Runs out of Time

November 21, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Geneva, IL - The Madison Capitols (7-9-0-0) came within one goal of an improbable road comeback before the Chicago Steel (6-9-2-1) were able to survive by a final score of 8-5 on Saturday at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.

The night began very strangely, providing a sign of what was to come, as Chicago appeared to take a 1-0 lead courtesy of Jake Jaremko just 21 seconds into the first period. However, Cooper Watson was high-sticked on a race for a loose puck, negating the Jaremko goal.

On the ensuing power play, Madison had a quick chance to take the lead, but Ryan Lohin's wrist shot clanged off the iron behind Steel goalie John Lethemon.

Moments later, playing in his first USHL shift, Mount Horeb native Konur Peterson had what appeared to be an open net after Lethemon came out of his net on the near post, but the goalie sprawled out to make a spectacular denial of Peterson to keep things even.

Madison eventually would start a first-period see-saw, as Sam McCormick slammed home his seventh goal of the season off a pass from behind the net by Lohin. The Ohio State commit gave Madison the 1-0 lead at 5:46.

However, Chicago would not be intimidated. After Jordan Ernst was called for his first of two minor penalties in the period, Marcel Godbout picked up a loose puck in the blue paint to tap home his third goal in three games against Madison to tie the game, 1-1, at 10:05.

This time, though, it was the Capitols who would not waver. Less than two minutes later, Guillaume Leclerc took a perfect Phil Beaulieu saucer pass and unleashed a laser beam off the crossbar behind Lethemon for his seventh of the year at 11:43 to put Madison ahead 2-1.

Once more, it was Chicago's lethal power play that would not let the Madison lead last in the final minute, as Brandon Duhaime took a feed in the left circle and rifled a shot over Ryan Edquist to put Chicago back to a tie score heading into the intermission, 2-2.

The Steel would immediately go back to the attack to begin the second, as Mitch Lewandowski leaked Karch Bachman in on goal, and the former Green Bay Gambler deked to the forehand to beat Edquist at 1:23 to give Chicago its first lead.

With that tally, the Capitols made a change in net, as Garrett Metcalf came on in relief of Edquist. Madison would have opportunities in the middle frame, but Lethemon stole the show in stopping all 18 Capitols shots on net in the period, including a denial on Madison native Mick Messner and a rebound off the stick of Haralds Egle.

The Chicago power play then fired a debilitating blow in the period's final two minutes as Karlis Cukste flipped a point shot through traffic and past Metcalf for his first of the season at 18:15.

Just 27 seconds later, riding the momentum of their third power play goal in as many tries, the Steel extended the lead again as Lewandowski beat Metcalf on a two-on-one from the right side to put Chicago ahead by three goals heading into the third.

Tanner Laczynski had his sights set on burying the Capitols, potting a bank-shot goal just 31 seconds into the third period to put Chicago ahead 6-2.

To their credit, the Capitols were not willing to roll over, as Alex Payusov picked up a power play marker at 8:35 to bring the score back to 6-3 and give Madison some life.

At 10:53, Charlie Gerard then joined the seven-goal club himself, banking a left wing shot behind Lethemon to cut the Chicago lead to 6-4.

Then at 13:37, Beaulieu finally got his first goal as a Capitol, ripping a perfect wrist shot behind Lethemon on the glove hand to get Madison back to within a single goal at 6-5. After scoring 10 goals with Waterloo last season, Beaulieu ended his 15-game goal drought as a Capitol to give Madison thoughts of an unthinkable comeback.

Ultimately, though, the Capitols' comeback needed just one too many miracles, as both Adam Parsells and Bachman were able to deposit pucks into an empty net after Madison pulled Metcalf for an extra skater.

In the see-saw affair, the teams saw a combined 13 goals and 31 points go onto the stat sheet. Alec Broetzman (two assists) and Beaulieu (one goal, one assist) were the only Capitols with multiple points in a balanced effort. On the other side, Bachman registered the lone two-goal night, while Parsells, Christiano Versich, Jake Jaremko, and Max Zimmer added two-point nights for the Steel.

The Capitols return to the home front for a special Military Appreciation game on Wednesday, Nov. 25 against Waterloo. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. with Seats for Soldiers packages available starting at $50. The package sets aside tickets for military veterans to come into the game free of charge, in addition to providing your business or family with recognition on game night inside the Alliant Energy Center.

Tickets to all upcoming Capitols home games, including the "Seats for Soldiers" military appreciation night on Weds., Nov. 25, can be purchased by calling (608) 257-CAPS or by visiting www.MadCapsHockey.com. A full promotional schedule can also be seen on the Capitols' web page under the Tickets tab.

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