USHL Madison Capitols

McLellan & McCormick's Tallies Not Enough in OT Loss

Published on January 15, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI - The Madison Capitols (12-16-2-2) unleashed a third period burst at the Chicago Steel (14-16-3-2) on Friday night at the Alliant Energy Center, but a late Steel goal forced overtime, where they eventually prevailed 3-2 over the Capitols. In a first period marred by penalties, both Garrett Metcalf and Daniel Vladar were on top of their creases and their games in the first period, combining for 25 saves on 26 shots.

Each team received a two-man advantage, and the Capitols had a major penalty power play to go along with it, but they could not solve Vladar, who made three spectacular saves from point blank range on Sam McCormick, including a sliding leg-pad save off a Daniel Willett one-time rebound.

At the other end, the Steel got the game's lone goal right out of a media timeout, as Jack Gessert dug a puck free in the slot and twisted a shot through traffic and behind Metcalf at 7:20 of the first period for the game's lone goal in the opening frame.

The Steel had their own late two-man advantage, but Metcalf remained stout en route to 14 first-period saves to keep his team in the game.

After a shooting gallery of a first period, both teams seemed to put their weapons away in a second period that saw a neutral zone clogging. The best chance of the period came on a Chicago two-on-one as Marc Johnstone clanged a snipe off the post behind Metcalf.

The teams combined for just 12 shots in the second period, and the Capitols could only get three pucks in on Vladar, who remained perfect through 40 minutes.

The Capitols' offense came alive in the third period, and on a night when both teams were a perfect 7-for-7 on penalty kills, it was the Madison shorthanded unit that broke through to even the slate.

After going 22 games between goals, Tyson McLellan roared in down the right wing side on a shorthanded breakaway and roofed one past Vladar to tally his first goal since Oct. 25 to tie the game, 1-1, at the 5:44 mark.

The Capitols appeared to have vaulted to a victory when McCormick buried his 15th of the season off a clean faceoff win from Ryan Lohin at the 13:09 mark. McCormick had just tried a shot off the previous faceoff, which Vladar handled with ease. The second try was a fluttering knuckler that eluded Vladar to give the Capitols the 2-1 lead.

That lead stood up until the game's final minute. With just over a minute left on the third period clock and Vladar scooting to the bench for an extra attacker, the Steel turned the puck over in center. Alex Payusov had an empty net staring him in the face, but the winger's punch shot missed the target. Following a timeout, Chicago got the puck deep into the Capitols zone, where Gessert somehow beat Metcalf on a blind, backhanded, back-to-the-net tally to tie the score with 32 seconds to go, 2-2.

From there, the game went to overtime, a period the Steel had not scored in all season. At the 4:50 marker, USHL leading scorer Tanner Laczynski broke his game-long silence when he walked to the slot in the 3-on-3 and unleashed a wrister that beat Metcalf to give Chicago the 3-2 win. Metcalf finished his night with 34 saves, while Vladar registered 31 for the Steel.

The Capitols will continue their seven-game homestand with games against Green Bay Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Cedar Rapids on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. respectively. The Capitols will play two more home games next weekend against Team USA's National Team Development Program (U17) before taking to the road for 13 of their next 14 games.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2016


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