Caps Slit Final Two Games In Romeoville
Two games went in decidedly different directions for the Capitals Sunday and Monday morning but Topeka managed to take one at the Showcase. Sunday afternoon saw the Caps dominate Michigan 6-1, while Monday morning they fell back to earth in a blistering 11-3 loss to Granite City.
Yu Hikosaka had a big game for Topeka against Michigan, scoring twice in the first period (on a power play at 9:39 assisted by Hardijis Kupaks and Nick Manney, unassisted at 18:17) and completing the hat trick in the third (unassisted at 14:53). Georgy Ostapchuk, Kole Hudson, and Kupaks would round out the rest of the scoring for the Capitals and Jude Hull stopped 16 of 17 enroute to a satisfying 6-1 win, their first of the Showcase.
On Monday morning, Topeka rolled out of bed in the wee hours to face one of the best teams in the league for the final game in Romeoville. Granite City (19-4-0) lived up to their billing, taking a 2-0 lead in the first and expanding it to 6-1 after the second. Hikosaka, Brandon Hawkins, and Manney each found the net for the Caps but it would not be enough as the Lumberjacks piled on another five points in the third period to take the game 11-3.
The Capitals return home this Saturday at 3pm to face the Dallas Junior Stars. It will be the first of a two-game set against Dallas that will conclude Sunday morning at 11am. The Capitals, along with the RoadRunners, will be honoring their parents and billet families this weekend as part of RoadRunners Family Weekend at Landon Arena. For more information on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit www.topekacapitals.com.