USHL Madison Capitols

Muck's Overtime Wrister Catapults Capitols Past Gamblers

Published on December 19, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Green Bay, WI - The Madison Capitols (10-13-1-2) once again erased a second intermission deficit, and Tommy Muck provided the overtime heroics in a 4-3 win over the Green Bay Gamblers (15-9-1-1) at the Resch Center on Saturday night.

The Capitols, for a second straight night, had trouble breaking out of the gates, as Green Bay picked up two early power play chances and took the early lead courtesy of their captain Sam Saliba. He picked up a rebound off a Nick Poehling shot to jam it past Ryan Edquist for his eighth goal of the year to make it 1-0 Gamblers.

Edquist, like Metcalf an evening ago, was pressed into lots of action in the first 20 minutes, and he succeeded in fending off 17 of 18 shots through the first period. The Capitols also played with a distinct edge in the first period, pushing back between whistles and after whistles.

As the animosity elevated, the Capitols successfully goaded Green Bay into undisciplined penalties in the late stages of the period. As Green Bay was operating on a third power play, Poehling was whistled for interference, but after the whistle stopped play, Cam Lee shoved Tyson McLellan with a headlocking hit, handing the Capitols a 4-on-3 power play which carried into period two.

After the ice was resurfaced, the Capitols took advantage of their chance, potting a third power play goal in two nights as Ryan Lohin slammed home a loose puck in tight to tie the game just 47 seconds into the second period. Phil Beaulieu threw a wrist shot on net from the left side, which was stopped by Kevin Reich. Sam McCormick poked the rebound out of Reich's grasp, where Lohin was able to deposit the biscuit into the empty twine.

Once again, though, the Poehling twins would go to the offensive and untie the game. This time, Jack Poehling picked up a puck and roared in down the left wing side. In the one-on-one battle with his former high school teammate Edquist, Poehling got the best of the goalie, beating him with a perfect wrist shot into the top corner on the stick side. His seventh of the season made it 2-1 Green Bay at the 6:28 mark.

Both teams had glorious chances to get the 2-1 score changed, but Edquist came up with a point-blank lunging glove stop on Ryan Smith, while Reich had his own reply on a perfect give-and-go from Lohin to McCormick at the front of the net.

Once again, the Capitols would have a chance in the final minute with a power play to break back even, but could not tally before the end of the period.

Just like a night ago, the Capitols rallied from 2-1 down in the third to take a lead, as the power play came to the forefront on this evening for Madison. First, after a failed clearing attempt by Ryan Blankemeier, Luke McElhenie scooped up a rebound off a McCormick shot to tuck home the tying goal at 4:16.

Just moments later, the Capitols lived to tell about one of the more bizarre plays of the season. First, while on a power play, Beaulieu fell down, setting up Green Bay on a 2-on-1 rush the other way. McLellan got back and stole a centering pass from Saliba, thus springing the Capitols the other direction. Lohin then found McCormick at the near post for a one-time water bottle popper to make it 3-2 Capitols at 6:32.

The Gamblers would not sit down quietly, though, as on a power play of their own, Cam Lee rifled a one time missile through traffic and past Edquist to tie the game, 3-3 at 10:40.

On a night when power plays were the name of the game, the Madison penalty kill came up huge in the final 1:34, killing off a McElhenie minor penalty and getting the game to overtime. The teams combined for five power play goals on the night, with the Capitols finishing 3-for-6 on the manpower advantage.

From there, Muck played the hero card, holding onto the puck, patiently waiting for a shooting line. Finally, with 3:21 left on the overtime clock, the Bemidji State commit launched a seeing-eye wrister that eluded Reich and gave the Capitols their first win in the overtime period in 2015-16.

After a thrilling two-day weekend, the Capitols will return home following the holiday break to play host to the Dubuque Fighting Saints one final time in the 2015-16 season on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7:05 p.m. Family Four Packs are back for this one, as a family can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and four bags of chips for just $48.

Family Four Packs are only available when purchased in advance and will not be available on game day. To purchase yours, call (608) 257-CAPS (2277) or visit www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2015


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