Madison is set to play the team's first true home and road games of the season after starting 1-1-0-0 following the USHL Fall Classic. Friday's game marks the team's home opener of the eleventh season back in the league.

Classic Split in Pittsburgh
The Capitols opened the 2025-26 season on Saturday in Pittsburgh against Lincoln. The two teams exchanged goals early in the second period before Madison took a lead late in the middle frame. The team added another in the third on the power play that would become the game winning goal. The Capitols are now 3-0-0-0 in season openers since Andy Brandt took over in the fall of 2023-24. Sunday, Madison looked to take both games from the Fall Classic for the second time in three years. After jumping out to a three-goal lead in the first period, it looked very possible for that to happen, but Fargo battled back with four unanswered to win 4-3.

Caleb Heil Wins Preseason Game
Caleb Heil became the first Capitols player in team history to play on NHL ice while on Madison's active roster on Tuesday night suiting up for Tampa Bay. The Lightning started a different netminder against Nashville with the plan to have Heil suit up in the third period against the Predators. Heil stopped all four shots sent his way in the third period as Tampa Bay battled back to force overtime. In overtime, the North Dakota commit stopped three more shots to lead the team into a shootout. Heil stunned Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, and Jonathan Marchessault in order as the Lightning scored once on the other end to come away with the 3-2 shootout victory.

Saints Come Marching In
The team that ended Madison's 2024-25 campaign in the Eastern Conference Semi Final in April returns to face the Capitols on Friday. Dubuque got off to a great start in Pittsburgh at the Fall Classic taking down Sioux City and Waterloo down by a combined score of 15-2. Their fifteen goals is the most in the USHL by six goals through two games. Dubuque put up the first ten spot of the season on Wednesday in their season opener against Sioux City. The Fighting Saints return two 40-point scorers from a season ago, Michael Barron, 45, and Colin Frank, 40, to help lead the way offensively. Along with that duo, Wisconsin commit Eetu Orpana expects to be a big part of Dubuque's offensive attack. Saints forward Melvin Ekman leads the USHL in points with five through two games.

Iron Sharpens Iron
The Caps will face off against the Steel on Saturday night in Geneva. Chicago went 2-0-0-0 in the Fall Classic as well taking down Sioux Falls and Omaha by a combined score of 9-1. Led by former NHLer and 2025 US Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Scott Gomez in his first season behind the bench, the Steel are looking to bounce back from their worst statistical season since 2010-11. Chicago sat on the side during the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. The Steel are led by Luke Goukler offensively who has five points in two games. Tender James Scantlebury picked up three points in the fall classic, tied for the rookie lead through two games.

Halllo Gustavs Griva
German forward Gustavs Griva made his presence felt at the Fall Classic, recording two points in the Capitols' split weekend. Drafted alongside his twin brother Rihards, the pair have been skating on a line with Gavin Uhlenkamp to open the season. Griva scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway and added an assist in Saturday's win over Lincoln, giving Madison a spark offensively. His production marks a strong start as the Capitols look to build chemistry early in the year.

You Never Forget Your First
The Fall Classic also featured several firsts for the Capitols as the new season got underway. Gustavs Griva netted his first USHL goal on Saturday against Lincoln, while Michael Tang, Tyden Bergeson, and Ville Vaarala all tallied their first markers in Sunday's matchup with Fargo. Between the pipes, rookie goaltender Cash Cruitt earned his first league win on Saturday, turning aside 16 of 18 shots in the victory over the Stars. These early milestones highlight the impact of a fresh group of contributors stepping into key roles for Madison.

A Gauntlet to Begin
The Capitols open the 2025-26 campaign with one of the league's toughest slates, facing four straight opponents without a loss on their record. Lincoln entered Saturday's contest with a clean slate at 0-0-0-0, while Fargo skated in Sunday's matchup carrying a 1-0-0-0 start. The challenge continues this weekend as Madison hosts Dubuque, who sit at 2-0-0-0, in Friday's home opener before traveling to Geneva to meet the Steel on Saturday night for Chicago's home opener. The Steel will enter that matchup rested, coming off a 2-0-0-0 showing at the Fall Classic and sitting idle on Friday.

Game & Broadcast Information
Friday's home opener will have the puck dropped at 7:05 pm. Saturday's road game at Chicago will start at 6:05 pm. Tickets are available for Friday's game at tickets.madcapshockey.com. Both game's broadcast can be found on FloHockey with Friday's game having a radio broadcast on the Capitols Radio Network on YouTube.

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