USHL Madison Capitols

Specials Teams Is Capitols' Undoing in Loss to Phantoms

March 4, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Youngstown, OH - The Madison Capitols (20-22-4-3) succumbed to a special teams explosion from the Youngstown Phantoms (23-16-4-5) at the Covelli Centre on Friday night, falling 4-2 at night's end.

Despite a lengthy travel across a time zone, the Capitols were the team with the early burst, drawing a power play less then three minutes in. Just as the penalty time expired, Marcel Godbout turned with the puck at the left point and took a wrist shot bid with Guillaume Leclerc screening goaltender Ryan Bednard. The Godbout shot had eyes of its own, tickling the twine to put Madison on top 1-0 at the 5:05 mark.

Godbout's goal, however, would provide more of a wake-up call for the Phantoms than a momentum jolt for the Capitols. On a power play of its own at 8:57, Youngstown struck, as a Vas Kolias' center point offering ricocheted past Drew Hotte to deadlock the score.

In a period where the Phantoms controlled much of the second half of the frame, outshooting the Caps 12-7 overall in the period, Lukas Craggs broke the 1-1 game at 15:26 with a gorgeous snap shot over Hotte's glove.

Despite being the league's lowest-ranked power play entering play on Friday, the Phantoms did not seem to get that memo, as Yushiroh Hirano unleashed a slap shot bullet past Hotte at 8:20 to up the Youngstown lead to 3-1. Hirano's 18th of the season was also Youngstown's second power play goal of the evening.

After being outshot for much of the period, the Capitols mustered a squeaker to pull back to within a goal with 2:07 left in the period. Dmitri Buinitsky dropped it off to Eugene Fadyeyev. From the right wing circle, and with a defender draped on him, Fadyeyev turned a wrist shot toward the net that leaked through Bednard to make it 3-2.

Moments later, the Caps threatened to tie on a late power play drawn by Alex Payusov in the final minute of the frame.

However, the advantage backfired on the Capitols. After Hotte and a defender got their signals crossed, Tommy Apap stole the puck and hit Luke McInnis, who beat Hotte, who had just returned to his crease after his misadventure. The defenseman's fourth of the season restored the Youngstown two-goal lead, 4-2, into the third period.

Despite 1:08 of remaining power play time to start the third, the Capitols would not get any closer. After surviving the penalty kill, the Phantoms warranted the Capitols another power play opportunity just moments later as Alex Esposito was whistled for a post-whistle minor penalty, but the Phantoms' strong special teams effort kept the Capitols at bay.

Ryan Edquist replaced Hotte in relief in period three and put together a scoreless frame, stopping eight third period bids from the Phantoms.

Bednard had a busier third period, coming up with his best save on a point-blank one-timer from Payusov midway through the period. The Florida Panthers prospect picked up his 15th win of the season with 21 stops.

The two teams will reconvene one final time on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. CT from the Covelli Centre. The Caps will then return home for the next four games, which includes another stint with the Phantoms on Saturday, March 12 at 7:05 p.m. March 11 marks the Capitols' Cross Check Cancer initiative, as proceeds from ticket package purchases will benefit the UW Carbone Cancer Center, in conjunction with UW Health Sports Medicine, the Capitols' 2015-16 presenting sponsor.

March 12 brings about the return of four-legged friends to the Coliseum on Pucks N' Paws night, presented by Animart. Dogs will be permitted into the Alliant Energy Center on game night, and each pup will receive a doggy goody bag!

For more ticket information regarding future Capitols games back at the Alliant Energy Center, please call (608) 257-CAPS or visit www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2016


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