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USHL Madison Capitols

Lightning Quick: Lincoln Attack Too Much for Caps

January 30, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Lincoln, NE - The Madison Capitols (15-19-2-2) received a pair of goals from Alex Payusov, but could not overcome a vaunted Lincoln attack in a 5-2 loss to the Stars (23-17-1-0) at the Ice Box on Saturday night.

Following a tentative start, both teams turned to some of their most prolific offensive scorers to break the scoreless tie. First, Lincoln's Ludvig Hoff took a perfect diagonal feed in the right circle from Christian Evers and beat Ryan Edquist on the short side for his 15th of the year at 11:06.

The Capitols would not be deterred despite the raucous home crowd in Lincoln, as Alex Payusov picked up a bouncing puck in the slot area and outwaited Stars goalie Peyton Jones on the right wing side, wristing a try past the goalie to tie the score just 1:07 after Hoff's opening goal.

As the two teams traded chances in the 1-1 game with no finishes, Lincoln then received a huge opening in the form of a 1:54-long five-on-three power play following penalties to Eugene Fadyeyev and Ryan Lohin. After surviving the first 1:48 of that advantage, Grant Jozefek finally broke through for the Stars, roofing a left wing shot past Edquist's glove hand at 18:39.

While the Capitols escaped the two-man advantage threat with just one goal against, the Stars were not done in that last minute fury. Biagio Lerario controlled a puck on the right wing side, moved to the high slot, and then picked the top corner on the stick side on Edquist to propel Lincoln to a 3-1 lead with just 29 seconds left in the frame.

Just when it felt like the game may be slipping away, Payusov returned to the scoresheet, redirecting a Tommy Muck point shot past Jones just 22 seconds into the second period. Payusov's 13th of the season got the Capitols back to within a goal at 3-2.

However, for a second straight period, the Stars' response was swift and backbreaking. Just 1:22 after the Payusov tally, Carson Gicewicz took a feed from Dominick Mersch and elevated it past Edquist to make it 4-2 in favor of the Stars.

Garrett Metcalf entered the net following the Gicewicz goal, but the Stars did not relent, as Hoff took a pass from Jozefek behind the net and beat the Caps' second goalie from a tight angle on the right wing to extend the Lincoln lead to 5-2 at 14:33.

Metcalf held the fort down for the Capitols in the third, as he finished his night with 18 saves in relief of Edquist.

The Capitols had a multitude of power play chances, but could not connect on seven man advantage opportunities on a night when Polino, Hoff, and Jozefek combined for seven points for Lincoln.

The win was the Stars' fourth consecutive, further securing their hold of top billing in the Western Conference.

The Capitols are back on the ice on Friday, Feb. 5 in Cedar Rapids for their final trip to The Stable against the RoughRiders. Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. on 106.7 FM, 1670 AM, The Zone in Madison.

Fans can follow along with the Capitols' road trip on Facebook (Madison Capitols Hockey Club), Twitter (@MadCapsHockey) and Instagram (@MadCapsHockey). Live radio broadcasts can also be heard on the TuneIn app and www.MadCitySportsZone.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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