The Capitals traveled to Point Mallard over the weekend for a three-game set against the Ducks. When the dust settled, it was Topeka who emerged victorious, gunning down the Ducks for a series win.
On Friday the 13th, the bad luck belonged to Point Mallard. Reigning South Division Star of the Week Tre Kautzman capitalized on a power play at 14:33 of the first (assisted by Alex Sauer and Richard Yusa) to push the Caps ahead 1-0. John Crusinberry added another netter in second (assisted by Steve MacIver at 16:17) to double the lead heading into the third. The Ducks would find the net seven seconds into the final frame but the Caps defense, which held Point Mallard to 15 shots for the game, stood strong and held on for a 2-1 victory.
Saturday night saw a lot more offense in the Point mallard Ice Complex only without any of the drama. Alex Johanson wasted no time notching the game's first score, tallying an unassisted goal only 50 seconds into the first period. Tre Opack and Yusa added a power play goal each to close out the period, posting the Caps to a 3-0 lead. Johanson would strike again in the second, completing a hat trick with goals at 6:34 and 9:15, bookending Opack's second score of the night and thrusting Topeka ahead 6-0. The Ducks finished the second with their lone goal of the game and Johanson combined with Sauer for another two goals in the final frame and the Caps ran away with an 8-1 series clinching victory.
The final game of the series proved to be the Caps undoing as the Ducks exploded out of the gate with two goals in the first, three in the second, and one in the third for a 6-2 defeat. Joe Stoneburner (assisted by John Cuni and Dylan Wattles at 19:51 of the first) and Cuni (assisted by Andrew Cooley and Wattles at 4:31 of the third) accounted for the only offense for Topeka.
The Caps head on to Nashville for three games this weekend before returning to Landon Arena for their final series of the season, three games against the Sugar Land Imperials. For more information on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK.