Two of the top three teams in the USHL Eastern Conference go head-to-head when the Madison Capitols travel to Youngstown to face the Phantoms in a three-in-three starting Wednesday.
Madison enters the week clinging to a one-point lead for second place in the East, so this will be one of the biggest matchups of the season for both clubs.
The Caps and Phantoms have met on three previous occasions this season, with Madison taking five out of a possible six points. This includes a sweep of Youngstown at home in November 2024.
The Capitols have seven players with 30 or more points this season. Colton Jamieson and Diego Johnson became the latest to join the Over 30 Club in last Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Waterloo Black Hawks.
The pair join Finn Brink, Bobby Cowan, Ryker Lee, Aiden Long and Mason Moe with that distinction. The seven players surpassed last season’s six with 30 or more points.
Lee is now in third place among the team’s Tier I history for points in a single season (54). He is currently one point back of Luke Mittelstadt for second in Tier I history. Lee also leads all USHL rookies in points this season.
The Capitols will have quite a stretch of road games coming up, with 12 of their last 17 regular-season games played away from home. They enter this week’s play with a 10-8-2-0 record on the road.
Youngstown is led by forward Adam Benak with 48 points (14-34-48) in 48 games this season. Michael Mesic comes into Wednesday with 34 points (13-21-34) with Jamison Sluys right behind him at 33 points (14-19-33).
The Phantoms have gotten solid goaltending from Melvin Strahl, who leads the USHL in wins with 25. His 2.55 goals-against average is top three among qualified league goalies.
Puck drop for Wednesday and Thursday’s games are set for 6:05 Pm ET, with Friday scheduled to start at 7:05 Pm ET.