The Madison Capitols hosted the Youngstown Phantoms to start the new year. This was the first of four matchups between the two teams this season. The Phantoms came into the night sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference; Madison was at sixth.
A total of 15 penalties allowed for a combined 10 power plays in this one. Youngstown got the scoring going first. The Phantoms ripped off three unanswered goals, the lone goal in the first and two to start the second. Madison eventually responded when Caleb Pittsley beat Youngstown goalie Tobias Trejbal to get the Caps on the board. Shortly after Pittsley's goal, Capitols forward Micheal Tang was awarded a penalty shot. Tang buried it to get the Caps within one.
Youngstown would score one more goal late in the second period to extend their lead back to two. Madison was unable to answer the rest of the game, and a lone third-period goal courtesy of Cooper Simpson would secure the 5-2 win for Youngstown.
Brady Krey stood between the pipes for the Capitols. He saved 28 of the 33 shots sent his way in his fifth start this year. The Phantoms will be back at Bob Suter's LEGACY20 Arena on Saturday night to cap off the weekend doubleheader.
