Madison picked up their first win of the season on Saturday night with a shootout victory over Muskegon. The Capitols never led in the game falling behind at every point, but the team did not quit and escaped with their first two points of the season.
The Lumberjacks got the scoring started in the first with rookie standout Zaac Charbonneau tallying his fifth of the season, he would add one more later in the game to make it three on the weekend for the tendered forward from Quebec.
The Capitols found the scoreboard on the other end with just over a minute to go in the period to tie the game at one. The goal was a deflection from Eero Butella on a Logan Lutner centering feed. The goal is Butella's first of the season. Lutner was the only assist given on the goal that tied things heading into the first intermission.
Madison turned the puck over from behind the goal line allowing Muskegon to regain the lead at 2-1 just three minutes into the second period, but Madison found the tying goal with Logan Lutner burying his second goal of the weekend just about a minute later. Gustavs Griva and Wyatt Finkenkeller assisted on the Lutner goal. For Finkenkeller, the game was his USHL debut, and he was able to grab his first USHL point in the game.
In the third, Charbonneau struck for Muskegon 5:41 into the period, but the Capitols Landon MacSwain had an answer just over a minute later. The goal for MacSwain was his second of the weekend and deflected in off of his foot on a feed from Colin Yandle. The assist marked the first in the USHL career for Yandle.
Neither team was able to end things in regulation despite Madison outshooting Muskegon 11-2 in the final frame.
In overtime, the Capitals controlled play outshooting Muskegon 5-4 in the extra frame. Daniel Halonen had a shot that was called no goal on the ice, but the referees took things to the replay monitor. The call stood as it was on the ice, which inevitably led to a shootout.
The Caps went first in the shootout with Bryce Wiitala scoring for Madison. The next three shots, two from Muskegon and one for Madison were all stopped by the goaltenders. Bode McConnell stepped up with a chance to win things for the Capitols. He stepped up and was able to secure the win for Madison.
In a shootout, there are plenty of decisions for a coaching staff to make. Assistant Coach Dominic Zombo looked at the backup goaltender who faces plenty of shootout attempts throughout a week, Cash Cruitt. Zombo was asked to give him one player who should go. Cruitt's response was to have McConnell go, and the forward was able to clinch the win for Madison.
The win marks the first for Head Coach and General Manager Trent Eigner. Eigner played for Madison from 1988-90.
Madison hits the road to Iowa for a pair of games next weekend to face off against the undefeated RoughRiders in Cedar Rapids on Friday and Waterloo Black Hawks on Saturday.
