MADISON, WI. – The Lancers began their seven-game road trip with game one of a two-game series in Madison tonight (2/17). Both squads currently sit in eighth place in their conferences, however the Lancers still have a playoff spot attainable, being eight points back from the Sioux Falls Stampede who sit in sixth place in the west. And while statistically, Madison is not eliminated from playoff contention, they find themselves 20 points out of a playoff spot with just 22 games left to play making it less likely.
 
With cross-conference play being scarce in the past two seasons, the Lancers and Capitols have not played since September 26^th, 2019, at the USHL Fall Classic in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, which resulted in a 4-1 victory for Omaha.
 
The offense came out for both teams early with first period shots at 16-10 in favor of Omaha.
 
Even with the Lancers leading in shots the whole first period, Madison found the back of the net first on the power-play with Jack Brandt netting a high slot shot off feeds from Will Felicio and Matt McGroarty.
 
The lead for the Capitols only lasted just over three minutes as Griffin Jurecki picked up a fast break and made a nice move on Madison goaltender, Mason Kucenski to lock the game 1-1. Charlie Lurie notched an assist on the play.
 
Just 49 seconds later, Haden Kruse dumped the puck ahead for Justin Stupka who lined up a one-timer pass for Aleksi Kivioja who beat Kucenski high, glove side to send the Lancers into the first break up 2-1.
 
The Lancers kept control in the second period despite shots being an even 10-10 in the middle frame as Logan Morrell netted the lone goal. A feed ahead by Riley Rosenthal, followed by a pass to the hash marks by Kruse, led Morrell to a tip in goal to extend the Lancers' lead to 3-1. Good for Morrell's fourth goal of the year and Kruse's second assist of the night.

It took the Capitols over eight minutes into the third to find the back of the net again as Peter Cisar tapped in a goal off a feed from Nathan Lewis to make it a 3-2 game. 

High intensity play ensued for the next 10 minutes, but after the Lancers got a lengthy 5-on-3 power-play, they got the jets going again. 

19:17 into the third period while up two men, Drew Montgomery found Lurie in the slot for a one-timer that Kucenski made the initial save on. But with Reese Laubach standing close, he was able to hack in the rebound to make it a 4-2 game, which would conclude as the final score. 

The Lancers are back at it tomorrow, February 18th for another 7:05PM CST. puck drop with the Capitols at Bob Suter Capitol Ice Arena. That game can be caught on Mixlr and FloSports.