With the most dramatic win of the season on Friday night, and a loss for Cedar Rapids, Madison clinched the franchise's second playoff birth since the team returned to the USHL in 2014.
The Capitols came from behind after trailing 3-1 with 45 seconds left in regulation to pick up the team's 29th win of the season. After forcing overtime thanks to goals from Max Nagel and Shawn Ramsey, Andrew Kuzma sealed the deal with six seconds left in the five-minute overtime period with his 27th of the year.
Patriks Berzins stopped 40/43 shots that came his way on Friday night en route to picking up his 13th win of the season. Over his last four games, the Maine commit has allowed only six goals total including Friday's win. He has picked up a win in five of his last six starts.
Madison last made the playoffs during the 2021-22 season when the team went on a run to the Clark Cup Final, falling to Sioux City in four games. The Capitols made this run from the fifth seed in the conference with a first year coach. Currently, Madison sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference under first-year head coach Andy Brandt.
In their first season behind, the Madison coaching staff has taken a team that had a point percentage of .306 last season to a .571 point percentage on a 29-21-4-2 record on the season.
The 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs are scheduled to start the third week of April with home ice in the first round still up for grabs. The top four seeds in the conference receive home-ice in their first series, the top two get byes. Exiting Friday's win, Madison sits one point back of fourth place in the Eastern Conference, Youngstown, and seven points back of second placed Green Bay.
Madison has won 11 of their last 13 points en route to clinching the playoff birth with six games left in the regular season.
The Capitols face off against Youngstown tomorrow night once again with a chance to jump the Phantoms in the standings. Puck drop is set for 6:05 pm at the Corelli Centre in Youngstown.
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