Mittelstadt, Caps Finish Steel in OT Thriller to Split Weekend
April 2, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release
The Madison Capitols end the weekend with a big two points after Luke Mittelstadt's overtime heroics earn a weekend split with the Chicago Steel.
A wild third period set the overtime frame up in tonight's series finale. Mittelstadt blasted home the overtime winner just 52 seconds into the extra frame after Kyle Kukkonen fed the blueliner a cross ice pass on a 3-on-2 odd man rush.
"I thought tonight was a great bounce back win after a game that we feel like we did not even play close to our best last night," Caps head coach Tommy Upton said. "To come out and have a response like that shows what this team is made of, what type of team we have and it shows our leadership."
After the opening 20 minutes of hockey, the Caps trailed 1-0. the latter 40 minutes is when they turned up the heat and put some goals in the back of the net. Kyle Kukkonen got the Caps rolling when he shelfed a backdoor goal on the power play 7:11 into the 2nd period. Forwards Jake Dunlap and Reid Pabich scored a pair of goals just 1:27 apart to take a 3-2 lead.
The Caps picked up right where they left off in the 2nd period when Tyler Haskins and Quinn Finley each buried lamp lighters just 44 seconds apart to give the Caps a 5-2 lead. A wild flurry from the Steel in the final few minutes forced the overtime frame where the Caps finished the job.
Madison went 2-for-4 on the power play tonight (Kukkonen and Dunlap while holding the leagues top power play unit 1-for-3.
The Caps had another stellar evening for multi-point scorers. Tyler Haskins (1G, 1A), Jake Dunlap (1G, 2A), Kyle Kukkonen (1G, 2A) and Luke Mittelstadt (1G, 2A) all registered multi-point nights for Madison tonight.
Netminder Simon Latkoczy was stellar again tonight earning his 20th victory of the season. The Omaha commit stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced tonight and racked a number of highlight reel saves.
The Caps are back in action next weekend at home against the U17s of Team USA.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2022
- Storm Sweeps Stampede in 5-4 Victory - Tri-City Storm
- Mittelstadt, Caps Finish Steel in OT Thriller to Split Weekend - Madison Capitols
- Gamblers Fall in Night Two against USA - Green Bay Gamblers
- Steel Score Three Goals in Final Minutes; Fall 6-5 in Overtime against Madison - Chicago Steel
- Phantoms Hold off Muskegon for 4-3 Win - Youngstown Phantoms
- Fighting Saints Edge Black Hawks in Overtime - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Friendly Fire Fells Hawks - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stars Lose 5-1 to Musketeers - Lincoln Stars
- Lancers Split Weekend with Fargo After Blowout Loss - Omaha Lancers
- Mehlenbacher Pots Two, Lumberjacks Fall Just Short in 4-3 Loss to Youngstown - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Storm Set to Host "Youth Hockey Night" - Tri-City Storm
- Storm Posts 4-0 Shutout of Stampede - Tri-City Storm
- Stars Streak Ends in Sioux City - Lincoln Stars
- Phantoms Fast Start Paces 6-3 Win over Muskegon - Youngstown Phantoms
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