USHL Madison Capitols

Metcalf & Caps Blank Sioux City Behind Strong Offensive Start

Published on January 8, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Madison, WI - The Madison Capitols (12-15-1-2) roared out of the gates to a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back in a 4-0 win over the Sioux City Musketeers (15-15-1-0) at the Alliant Energy Center on Friday evening.

The Capitols had no intention of continuing their goal-scoring drought following a 2-0 shutout defeat in Bloomington on Saturday. Madison got their early chance on a power play in the game's opening five minutes, and they made no mistakes.

After Tyson McLellan threw a shot-pass into the high slot, the puck skittered to the right of goaltender Cam Gornet, where Luke McElhenie successfully pried it off the side of the net and jammed it into the twine on the backhand to make it 1-0 at 4:14.

Sioux City put up a concerted effort to try to claw back into the game, registering 12 first period shots, but Garrett Metcalf was stout for the Capitols, stopping each of the Musketeers' first period chances.

The Capitols were not content with just the 1-0 lead, though. At the 12:12 mark, captain Ryan Lohin threw a puck from right circle to left circle, which bounded off of Cooper Watson's skate and rolled to Sam McCormick in the left wing corner. Without any hesitation, McCormick noticed Gornet's leg off the pipe and threw a quick wrist shot into the vacant net for his 14th of the season, putting the Capitols on top 2-0.

Just 3:25 later, it was Alec Broetzman's turn to hit the scoreboard, as Phil Beaulieu threw a shot into a sea of bodies, where Broetzman retrieved it and wristed it home from the left circle to make it a 3-0 game after one period.

The Capitols and Musketeers traded in a back-and-forth first period for a middle stanza where the neutral zone became a figurative quagmire, with neither team able to generate fantastic chances. Metcalf had the answers for the eight Sioux City shots in the second frame, while Gornet was nine of nine on Capitol offerings.

It would be more of the same for Sioux City in the third period, as the Capitols continued their clogging of the neutral zone, while Metcalf came up with all the replies in his crease. The Salt Lake City native and Anaheim Ducks draft pick would put an exclamation point on his shutout performance with a sliding pad save on Teemu Pulkkinen at the final buzzer, diving to his left to deny the Musketeer winger.

The victory was Metcalf's second career USHL shutout and first since January of 2015 in Youngstown. Metcalf has stopped 72 of the last 74 pucks that have been fired his way in the last two games.

Eetu Selanne rounded out the scoring for the Capitols, golfing a puck into an empty net from center ice with 4:45 remaining in regulation as Sioux City yanked Gornet from the cage in desperation.

After kicking off their seven-game homestand in convincing fashion, the Caps return to the ice on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7:05 p.m., where they will host the Youngstown Phantoms on "Be The Miracle" night. Madison will wear specialty "Miracle on Ice" inspired jerseys on a night where the Capitols will honor the late Bob Suter and recognize local miracle workers around Madison.

Following the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off with parts of the proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison, as well as the Bob Suter Memorial Fund.

In Suter's honor, the night will be "all about the kids", as children 12-and-under can receive a free ticket to the game with the purchase of an adult ticket at the promotional cost of $10-$12. The offer is good through 1 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information on the "Be The Miracle" night, visit http://bit.ly/CapsBeTheMiracleSpecial or log onto www.madcapshockey.com. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased by calling (608) 257-CAPS (2277).

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2016


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