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USHL Madison Capitols

McElhenie Plays Hero with Late Game Winner

January 23, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI - The Madison Capitols (15-17-2-2) once again had the offense clicking, but this time it took a late marker from a local to seal a 5-4 win over the U.S. U17 National Team Development Program (15-18-3-1 USHL) at the Alliant Energy Center on Saturday night.

After potting six goals on Friday night, the Capitols had their sites set on a similar red-hot start, as Guillaume Leclerc quickly put the home side to the lead in the opening moments.

Marcel Godbout stole a puck on a Team USA breakout attempt and then fired across the rink to Phil Beaulieu at the right point. His wrist shot attempt was tipped by Leclerc in front, and while goalie Adam Scheel made the first stop, Leclerc stayed diligent on the rebound and eventually poked it home for his 10th of the season at 1:20.

The lead would not take long to be lost, though, as the Americans picked up a power play and an opportunistic bounce-back goal. As Daniel Willett was attempting to clear the puck from behind his net, Jacob Tortora raced into the slot to steal on his backhand and beat Garrett Metcalf at 2:43 to tie the game, 1-1.

The goaltenders would stabilize from there, as both teams registered 10 shots in an evenly-matched opening period. Team USA was unable to strike on a second power play opportunity after Brody Stevens negated the Capitols' lone power play on a hooking minor.

As quickly as the Capitols staked their claim to the lead in the first period, they one-upped themselves in the second. Tyson McLellan raced down the ice to cancel an icing, got to a loose puck behind Scheel's net, then centered to a crashing Stevens. The Ann Arbor native then ripped one past his former USHL club for his second of the weekend, which gave the Capitols a 2-1 lead just 43 seconds into the period.

Unlike Friday night, though, the Capitols would not be able to put Team USA away, and the Americans showed their poise in tying the score at 7:42. Scott Reedy made his way to the slot, settled a bouncing puck, then outwaited Metcalf before rifling home a shot from the right circle to tie the game, 2-2.

For the first time all weekend, Team USA would finally turn a tying goal into the momentum that led to the lead goal, as Joey Cassetti banked one off Metcalf's blocker, high in the air, and eventually behind the Capitol goalie at 15:57.

The Capitols would not panic though, as Metcalf came up with huge saves at point blank range on Logan Cockerill with the leg pad, and then once more with a lurching chest save on the befuddled Cockerill.

Metcalf's heroics set the stage for a pair of unsung heroes. First, Charlie Parker won a race to a puck at the offensive blue line and blazed in alone on a right-wing breakaway. The Verona product then slid a beautiful backhander under the butterfly positioning of Scheel to tie the score just 31 seconds after the Cassetti marker.

The Capitols then had ideas of taking the lead with a power play blitz, but Scheel came up with his own robbery of a stop on Luke McElhenie on the right side post, where McElhenie found a loose puck on his blade with no one between him and Scheel.

Just moments after the power play ended, with just 28 seconds left in the frame, newcomer defenseman Stephen Kleysen raced in over the left wing side and turned a shot on goal from a nearly impossible angle at the bottom of the circle. Somehow, it found a crevice in Scheel's equipment and became Kleysen's first USHL goal to catapult the Capitols to the 4-3 lead at the end of the second period.

The third period was played tentatively by each side, as only 13 shots were thrown at the nets. Team USA found a tying goal for the third time on the night when Grant Mismash followed up an initial bid from the right side to beat Metcalf with 4:29 to play to tie the score, 4-4.

From there, McElhenie further showcased his role of Team USA destroyer. Just moments after he appeared to win an icing race to no avail, the Sauk City native picked up a puck in center and coasted in on a two-on-one with Leclerc. As he hit the right circle, McElhenie uncorked a rocket shot that sneaked through Scheel and into the twine to provide the exclamation point on a Capitols homestand that ended with a 4-2-1-0 record. McElhenie finished the weekend with three goals and an assist, ending his season series against Team USA with five goals and six points.

Following the lengthy homestand, the Capitols will now play 13 of their next 14 games away from Madison, beginning with trips to Chicago and Lincoln next Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30 respectively. Capitols fans are encouraged to follow along on 106.7 FM, 1670 AM, The Zone. For ticket information regarding upcoming Capitols games, call (608) 257-CAPS or visit www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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