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USHL Madison Capitols

Gerard's Goals Provide Cushion for Capitols

April 4, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI-- The Madison Capitols (23-24-11) built up a 3-0 edge and held on late to preserve a 4-2 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers (21-24-13) on Saturday at the Alliant Energy Center.

The Capitols wasted little time to jump on top 1-0 for the second time in as many nights. Sam McCormick found a puck in the offensive zone and fed captain Freddy Gerard, who sniped a beautiful wrist shot under the crossbar behind goalie Ryan Ruck to give Madison the lead just 34 seconds into the game. It was the captain's 18th goal of the season, good for team leadership.

The Capitols continued to pressure in the game's opening minutes and received a power play just over a minute into action. The Buccaneers were able to kill it off, though, and they responded with a strong push of their own in the Madison zone. Garrett Metcalf, starting his fourth straight game, had all the answers in the opening frame, stopping each of the eight Des Moines shots that came his way.

The second period continued to be the Gerard show, as Charlie Gerard got onto the score sheet for the second time in two nights. At just 1:17 of the second period, Guillaume Leclerc moved down the right wing side on an odd-man rush, waiting for Charlie to fly down the left wing side. Leclerc then slid a pass to Gerard, who finished it off on the backhand to make it 2-0 Capitols.

Charlie was not done yet, however, as Madison picked up another power play opportunity just over four minutes into the period. At 4:38, the puck got lodged in front of Ruck's crease and a scrum ensued. Luke McElhenie and Haralds Egle both worked the puck loose, and Gerard parked himself at the left side of the net. He took the close-in pass and threw it into the empty cage to put the Capitols up 3-0. It was the younger Gerard's 14th goal of the season.

Much like the two clubs' first meeting on March 13, after Madison took the 3-0 second period lead, Des Moines responded. Right off a faceoff deep in Madison ice, Brennan Sanford walked in front and deked from backhand to forehand and beat Metcalf at 14:32 to cut the Madison lead to 3-1.

After Madison made it tough sledding for the Buccaneers throughout much of the third period, the Buccaneers proved they had some fight to them, as Ara Nazarian cut the Madison lead to one at 15:50 to make it a 3-2 game.

Metcalf and the Capitols defense would hold the fort down, however, as the Salt Lake City, Utah native finished the night with 25 stops.

Egle provided the exhale and the icing on the cake for the Capitols, depositing a Leclerc feed into the empty net at 19:09 for his 17th goal of the season.

Following the matinee affair, Madison ends the season with two home games next Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Tickets are available by visiting www.madcapshockey.com or by calling (608) 257-CAPS.

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).

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