The Topeka Capitals are warming back up. After stopping their losing streak at four with a series closing win against Point Mallard, the Caps hit the road and built of the momentum by sweeping the Jr. Stars.
"We are happy with the two wins," said head coach Anthony Bohn. "Dallas is a solid team and coming away with all four points was big for us."
Friday night's game was over almost as soon as it had started. Nine different Capitals earned points in this one, with seven players contributing to a three goal outburst in the first period. Igor Valko (assisted by Mike Pedersen) put Topeka on the board at 11:49. Just two minutes later, Drew Kelly doubled the score with a netter of his own assisted by Steve MacIver and Andrew Cooley. Tre Kautzman ended the frame by splitting the pipes at 17:29 with an assist from newly acquired forward Richard Yusa to make it 3-0 after one. A Josig Rochon slashing penalty left over from the first led to Yusa's first goal as a Capital at just 37 seconds into the second, a power play goal assisted by Kautzman that made it 4-0. Kautzman lit the lamp again at the 6:36 mark (assisted by Andrew Cooley and Colin O'Conner) and Hank Roers finished the scoring with a goal at 15:55 (assisted by Kelly and Yusa) to give Topeka a 6-0 victory. Brett Malkmus earned his second shutout of the season, stopping all 18 shots and holding Dallas 0 for 3 on the power play.
"We played well Friday night," added Bohn. "Saturday night we played a little inconsistent, but we were happy with the overall effort from the guys. Once we find that consistency as a group, we will find more and more success collectively."
Both teams tallied powerplay goals in the first period Saturday to send the tied into the second. Yusa stepped up again in the middle frame, taking a feed from Alex Sauer to give the Capitals a 2-1 edge. At a man disadvantage in the third, Alex Sauer found the net for his first shorthanded goal of the season (assisted by Andrew Cooley) to make it 3-1 Caps. Dallas cut the lead to one with a power play goal at 15:54, but it wouldn't be enough. With the goalie pulled and time running out, Tre Kautzman garnered his fourth point of the series which sealed the game at 4-2.
The Capitals continue their road trip this weekend at the NA3HL South Division Showcase. They will play Texas on Friday afternoon at 3:15, Nashville on Saturday at 1:45, and Sugar Land on Sunday morning at 10:15. Catch every game streaming live at www.fasthockey.com.