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USHL Madison Capitols

Thunder Take Down Madison for Second Time, 5-1

January 23, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Bloomington, IL- The Madison Capitols (17-11-6) could not strike on five power play chances, while the Bloomington Thunder (13-16-6) connected twice with the man advantage en route to a 5-1 victory over Madison at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum on Friday night.

The second meeting between the two expansion clubs began slowly, as the Thunder registered six shots in the opening half of the first period, but could not pierce Darren Smith in the Madison goal crease.

The Thunder earned the game's first power play after Alec Vanko was whistled for cross checking at 12:21. After not allowing a power play goal in each of the last five games, Madison succumbed to a man-up goal as Matt Mendelson one-timed a Shane Bednard pass into the goal from the left circle to put the Thunder ahead 1-0.

With 2:46 to play in the first period, the Capitols received their first power play chance, and it was Vanko who nearly leveled the score. After carefully back-skating to open up a shooting lane, the captain launched a wrist shot through traffic at the point that ticked off of both goal posts and stayed out.

The Thunder survived the late scare to take the 1-0 lead into intermission. Goaltender Hayden Lavigne stopped each of the 10 Capitols shots he saw in the opening 20 minutes.

Bloomington carried on a strong opening period into the middle stanza, as Ryan Siroky slammed home a close-in rebound just 1:21 into the period to bump the Thunder lead to 2-0.

Both teams then saw multiple power play chances, but it was the Thunder that took advantage of the opportunities. Taking the puck hard to the crease from the left corner, Jack Jenkins was able to jam it through the legs of Smith at 14:39 to give Bloomington its second power play tally and a 3-0 lead. At that point, Garrett Metcalf entered the game in relief of Smith.

Late in the second, Charlie Gerard gave a much-needed jolt of energy to Madison, flipping a rolling puck over Lavigne's shoulder from the left-side goal line. Charlie received the puck from his brother Freddy Gerard before walking it to the net. Newly acquired Michal Kabac also picked up his first point as a Capitol, picking up a helper on the goal at 17:05 of the second. Kabac comes to Madison fresh off of a bronze medal performance for Team Slovakia at the IIHF World Junior Championships.

Madison had an opportunity with 1:24 of power play time to start the final period, but Bloomington completed the kill en route to a perfect 5-for-5 evening with a man down. Jenkins added his second of the game off a rebound at 15:21 of the third period before Logan Lambdin hit an empty net to round out the scoring in the game's final minute.

Lavigne finished the night with 30 saves for the Thunder in the victory, his second win in three starts since joining Bloomington.

Madison will look to bounce back as they kick off a five-game homestand on Friday, Jan. 30 against the Chicago Steel at the Alliant Energy Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. It's $1 Beer Night at the Coliseum; fans can purchase second-half party packs for $54 and reserve their place at each of Madison's six remaining dollar beer Friday nights. Coverage can also be heard on 106.7 FM, 1670 AM, The Zone, or online at www.madcitysportszone.com.

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