USHL Madison Capitols

Malone Leads Saints over Capitols

March 27, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Dubuque, IA- The Madison Capitols (21-22-11) could not withstand an early charge against them, and the Dubuque Fighting Saints (32-18-4) skated off with an 8-1 victory on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

The Fighting Saints, who entered the night seeking a playoff berth, came out with evident energy in the game's first frame, outshooting Madison 16-3.

At 3:24 of the first, Seamus Malone got Dubuque on the board first, tapping a puck home on the backhand from in tight. The forward's 21st of the season made it 1-0 Dubuque.

The Capitols yielded a pair of power play chances, including one that carried over into period two, but the Madison penalty killers got the job done in the first, thanks in large part to goaltender Darren Smith, who had 15 saves in the game's first 20 minutes alone.

In a set of strange circumstances, both teams had to take the ice in the second period on ice that was not resurfaced, as the Zamboni was malfunctioning.

Madison was able to put together a more concerted effort in the middle frame after the delay, forcing Jacob Nehama to block aside 12 shots, but the Capitols could not solve the Saints goaltender, who picked up his 25th victory.

However, it did not take long for Malone to make his way back to score sheet, regardless of the ice condition. After scoring a hat trick in the Saints' previous game, Malone picked up his second goal of the night in the middle frame. Just moments after a Madison power play ended, Nate Sucese hit Malone streaking down the left wing side. The red-hot Saint then beat Smith to the short side to make it 2-0 at 6:50.

Former Waterloo Black Hawk Hayden Shaw then picked up his second goal for his father, Matt's Fighting Saints club, unleashing a seeing-eye shot through traffic at 12:02 to extend the Dubuque lead to 3-0.

Madison had a chance to get the lead down to two just moments later as Charlie Gerard broke in on a two-on-one, but Nehama was able to get a piece of the shot to maintain the three-goal lead.

Malone completed his hat trick in the third period at 3:05, slamming home a Jacob Benson pass for his sixth goal in two games.

Freddy Gerard got the Capitols on the board with his fifth shorthanded goal of the season at 7:55 on a breakaway.

The Saints then put the gas pedal to the floor for four goals in the game's final eleven minutes, getting goals from Robby Jackson, Nate Sucese, and a pair from Evan Smith.

Malone finished the night with five points including his hat trick, and Jackson added a goal and two assists for the Saints in the win.

The Capitols take to the road one final time in the 2014-15 season as they visit the Chicago Steel on Saturday at 7 p.m. Madison then returns home for a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday against Dubuque at the Alliant Energy Center. It is a Kids Day at the Coliseum featuring a post game skate with the Capitols. Tickets are available by visiting Ticketmaster.com or calling (608) 257-CAPS (2277).

Capitols' 2015-16 season tickets are 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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United States Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2015


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