The South Division leading Capitals will return to Landon Arena this weekend after their second straight three-win weekend on the road, taking two from Dallas and one from Texas to move to 6-0-2.
Last Friday night's game didn't start out so well for the Caps after Dallas posted a goal in each of the first two periods to take a 2-0 heading into the third. Steve MacIver got the rally going early in the final frame with a goal at 1:25 (assisted by Hank Roers) to cut the lead in half. That broke the seal and allowed Trey Opack and Alex Sauer to take over with Sauer scoring the tying goal (assisted by Tre Kautzman and Opack at 6:08). Dallas retook the lead just over three minutes later but Opack evened the game (assisted by Sauer) at 11:01, sending the game into overtime 3-3. In the extra frame, Opack found the back of the net again with Sauer's help, sealing the comeback victory for Topeka at 1:33 in their fourth overtime game of the year.
On Saturday, the Capitals took control early and never relinquished the lead, with Tre Kautzman (assisted by Opack and Sauer at 1:33) and Hank Roers (assisted by MacIver and Colton Sprenger at 14:33) firing in two goals in the first. A power play goal in the second by Andrew Cooley (assisted by Kyle Rimbach and Sauer at 4:31) and an empty net goal with time expiring in the third by Roers (assisted by Cooley and Sauer) capped off the 4-0 shutout of the Jr Stars. Goaltender Jacob Pelton was incredible, fending off all 44 shots on goal on his way to his first win in net this season.
Topeka then boarded the bus and skipped over to the NTEX Sports Centre for a one-game matchup with the Texas Jr. Brahmas. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Capitals tied it up in the second with Opack's third goal of the weekend (fifth point overall, assisted by Dylan Wattles and Cooley at 16:02). The third was all Topeka as Roers fed Colin O'Connor for the eventual game winner and Sprenger fired in the game capping empty netter to seal the deal at 3-1. Pelton had an easier time in net on Sunday, only having to face 13 shots-on-goal and stopping 12 of them.
A week after being honored by Easton as South Division Stars, Sauer and Opack put in another strong performance. In addition to Opack's five points, Sauer added six points (1 goal, 5 assists) to his season total (12) that currently leads the team. Roers had a big weekend as well, chipping in four points (2 goals, 2 assists) of his own. Pelton's two wins in net comprised 120 minutes during which he only allowed one puck to slip past him out of 57 shots on goal.
The Caps are back at Landon Arena this Saturday and Sunday against the Twin City Steel. Saturday's game will be at 3pm and the series will wrap up on Sunday morning at 11. Tickets are only $5 for these and all games this season and parking is free. RoadRunners Season Ticket Holders get in free as well. For more information on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit www.topekacapitals.com.