Topeka Tops The Imps 7-4
Another game, another opportunity for the Capitals to assert their authority in the South Division. The Caps overcame an early deficit to overwhelm the Imperials in afternoon action at Landon Arena 7-4.
Georgy Ostapchuk struck first for Topeka, finding the net with help from Trenton Faber at 10:23 in the first. Wayne Hubley and Cole Sharrah each racked up a goal (at 14:19 and 18:35 respectively) for Sugar Land, ending the period with the visitors on top 2-1.
In the second, the Caps turned it up a notch. Feeding off a Hubley penalty that ended the first, Hardijis Kupaks scored a power play goal 22 seconds in (assisted by Kole Hudson and Yu Hikosaka) to tie the game at two. Hikosaka broke the tie a minute later, finding the net for the fourth time in this series (assisted by Nick Rizzo and Jaydn Munnelly) and handing the Caps a lead they would relinquish. Hikosaka scored twice more in the game (assisted by Rizzo and Benton Deanovich at 5:13 in the second and assisted by Munnelly and Rizzo at 1:06 in the third) to raise his totals since returning from the World Juniors to seven goals and five assists. The hat trick was his second in as many games. Prokofil Vladykoskiy cut the Topeka edge to 4-3 at 6:23 in the second but that was as close as the Imps would get.
After Hikosaka’s power play goal to start the third, Rizzo found the net as well (assisted by Kupaks and Hikosaka at 9:04) to make it 6-2 Caps. Sharrah would narrow it to 6-4 at 16:06 but Topeka would counter again, finishing as they started with an Ostapchuk goal (unassisted at 18:03) that made it a final 7-4.
The Capitals finish things up Sunday morning at 11am in Game Three against the Sugar Land Imperials. Tickets are only $5 and parking is free. For more information on upcoming Caps games, call 785-286-PUCK or visit www.topekacapitals.com.