The Capitols were eager for another shot at the Dubuque Fighting Saints, who ended the Caps 2024–25 campaign in the Eastern Conference semifinals last April. They got that shot on Friday night in the 2025-26 season home opener at Bob Suter's Legacy20 Arena.

Scoring 15 goals through two games, the Fighting Saints came in with the most high powered offensive attack in the USHL. Madison split their two games at the USHL Fall Classic last weekend, defeating the Lincoln Stars 3-2, then dropping one to the Fargo Force, 4-3. 

Dubuque opened the scoring in this one via a Micheal Barron power play goal midway through the first period. Three minutes into the second frame, Madison captain and Minnesota commit, Jackson Nevers, knotted the score at one with an assist from Caleb Pittsley. 

Later in the second, the puck slipped past the Capitols defense while on the man advantage, which led to a shorthanded goal courtesy of Dubuque's Charlie Arend to give the Fighting Saints a 2-1 advantage. In the final minute of the second, Capitols forward, Sam Kappell dented the twine for the first time this season. His goal came on Madison's fifth power play of the night, knotting the score at two apiece heading into the final period. 

Three minutes into the third, Gavin Lock reclaimed the lead for Dubuque by netting his second goal of the season. Madison pulled goalie, Caleb Heil, for the final two minutes of the third but were unable to answer Lock's goal, which would become the game winner, resulting in a 3-2 loss for the Caps. 

Caleb Heil padded away 24 of the 27 shots sent his way in his first start this season for the Capitols.

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