The Madison Capitols faced a tough defeat on Tuesday night as they fell 5-2 to the Youngstown Phantoms, evening the first-round series at 1-1. Despite a strong start that saw the Capitols leading 2-0 after the first period with goals from Max Nagel and Andrew Kuzma, the Phantoms mounted a relentless comeback.

Youngstown seized control in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission. Adam Pietila delivered a standout performance for the Phantoms, securing a hat trick, including a crucial empty-net goal to solidify the victory.

Capitols goaltender Patriks Berzins displayed resilience between the pipes, turning away 35 of 39 shots faced throughout the contest. However, Madison struggled to generate offensive opportunities and was out shot 40-17 by Youngstown.

With the series now deadlocked, all attention turns to game three, set to take place on Wednesday night in Youngstown at 6:05 pm CT. The winner of the decisive matchup will advance to the next round, while the loser will see their season come to an end.

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