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USHL Madison Capitols

Smith's Hat Trick Provides Difference in Capitols' Loss

November 13, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Dubuque, IA - The Madison Capitols (6-6-0) fell victim to a Dubuque Fighting Saints' (10-4-0) first period onslaught and a hat trick from Mitchell Smith, falling 6-3 on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

The first period started with the Fighting Saints going to the attack almost instantaneously. At 4:43, Nathan Sucese made a neat area pass to Colin Theisen in the high slot. Theisen's wrist shot was turned aside by Garrett Metcalf, but Sucese followed the puck's path to the net and jammed the rebound home to put Dubuque on top 1-0.

Much the same way Madison carried the play in the first period of the squads' first meeting on Sept. 26, the Fighting Saints kept the gas pedal floored, as Mitchell Smith and Willie Knierim scored just 1:03 apart to put Madison behind 3-0 at the 15:52 mark of the first period.

The back-to-back goals spelled the end of the night for Metcalf, who was relieved after just 12 shots by Ryan Edquist.

In a first period that saw Dubuque outshoot Madison 17-7 and earn two power plays, Casey Johnson, a defenseman known more for his big body presence on the back end, picked up a power play tally, his second goal in two games against Madison. The big man's goal came at 18:10 and gave Dubuque a 4-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Entering play on Friday, Madison had given up just nine first period goals in the previous 11 contests before Dubuque's four-goal tirade.

Sam McCormick got the Capitols off the mat early in the second period at 4:56 to pick up his third goal in as many games against the Fighting Saints. Captain Ryan Lohin worked the puck from behind the goal line into the slot, where McCormick settled the bouncing biscuit and rifled it past Hunter Miska to pull Madison within three.

Edquist provided the Capitols with a chance to regain its pulse, stopping 16 of 17 shots he saw through the end of the second period. However, it was Miska who came up with the most important save of the middle frame, denying Lohin on a clean breakaway in the final two minutes, keeping the Fighting Saints lead at 4-1.

Mitchell Smith continued to be a Capitol menace in the final period, deflecting a Keegan Ford power play point shot past Edquist at 7:37 to restore Dubuque's four-goal lead at 5-1.

The Capitols got final period tallies from Guillaume Leclerc (10:39) and Eetu Selanne (12:21), each set up by Haralds Egle, but it would not be enough. Smith finished off his hat trick, sandwiching his third of the night between the Madison goals from Leclerc and Selanne at 11:52.

Egle's pair of helpers improved his team-best assist total to 11 on the season, and Edquist finished his busy night of relief with 26 saves in the loss.

Madison returns home tomorrow night, Saturday, Nov. 14 against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7:05 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Center. Fans can purchase a specialty Beer & Brats pack and receive one ticket, one beer, and one brat for just $14.

Tickets to all upcoming Capitols home games can be purchased by calling (608) 257-CAPS or by visiting www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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