USHL Madison Capitols

Dubuque Explodes in Third for Comeback Win over Capitols

Published on April 3, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI- The Madison Capitols (22-24-11) fell victim to a four-goal third period comeback from the Dubuque Fighting Saints (34-18-5) on Friday at the Alliant Energy Center, as they fell by a score of 4-2.

After a wild third period that saw six goals on Sunday, including four for Madison, the two teams got back to defensive fundamentals on Friday in the opening frame, as goaltenders Garrett Metcalf for Madison and Jacob Nehama for Dubuque were perfect through 20 minutes.

Both teams had abbreviated power plays but failed to connect. Madison also earned a second full power play, but the Capitols power play that struck twice in less than a minute on Sunday could not succeed.

Nehama ended the first with 10 stops, while Metcalf saved all 11 shots that came his way.

Like the first period, Madison had to withstand an early Dubuque push, but Metcalf remained sparkling between the pipes in making 17 stops in the middle frame. Included in that array of stops was a splendid, sprawling save sliding to his left on a Dubuque power play.

At the other end, the Capitols may have only unleashed six shots in the middle period, but their shooting percentage skyrocketed. First, Eric Shaw skated in over the right side and fired a long wrist shot on Nehama's net. It may have tipped off a Saint defender, as it stunned Nehama and beat him over the glove to give Madison the 1-0 lead at 5:40. It was the Concord, Mass. native's first USHL goal.

After taking the 1-0 lead, the Capitols used the strength of their hottest offensive line to take the two-goal edge. Guillaume Leclerc worked the puck loose behind the net and centered it out front, where Haralds Egle kicked it across the crease to Charlie Gerard on the right side. From there, the Rocky River, Ohio native snapped it past a stretched Nehama to up Madison's lead to 2-0 at 10:40.

Dubuque had a chance to cut the Madison lead in half with a power play in the period's waning minutes, but Metcalf continued to hold down the fort and preserve the two-goal lead into the second intermission.

Madison entered the game 15-0-4 when leading after two periods, but Dubuque made that statistic a fallacy by rattling off a third period comeback that rivaled Madison's charge from down 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Nate Sucese started Madison's push by intercepting a Tony Stillwell pass and beating Metcalf on a shorthanded backhander at 5:34 to get the Saints on the board. Dubuque parlayed the energy boost of the shorthanded goal into a tying tally from Mitchell Smith at even strength at 9:03, a high-slot offering that made its way past Metcalf on the glove side.

After the Capitols completed a gutsy penalty kill shortly before the six-minute mark of the period, they could not clear the puck and Hayden Shaw was able to rip a wrist shot by Metcalf from the left circle to hand Dubuque the 3-2 lead. It was Shaw's fourth goal as a Fighting Saint after he scored just two with the Waterloo Black Hawks in 32 games.

At the other end, Nehama would not allow the Capitols a second straight comeback bid, as he finished the evening with 24 stops. Jacob Benson finished off Dubuque's season series victory over Madison with an empty-netter at 18:06.

Madison stays on home ice on Saturday for Pucks N' Paws day against the Des Moines Buccaneers. Due to the Final Four, the start time for Saturday has been moved to 3:30 p.m. with Alliant Energy Center doors opening at 2:30 p.m. Dogs will be permitted inside the Coliseum for this game only. Special packages, presented by Animart, are available by calling (608) 257-CAPS (2277).

Capitols' 2015-16 season tickets are also available now by visiting www.MadCapsHockey.com . Fans who pay in full for season tickets by June 1 will receive a specialty season ticket holder jersey. Packages can also be purchased by calling (608) 257-CAPS (2277).

Check out the Madison Capitols Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2015


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