Men's Ice Hockey | 4/17/2026 9:43:15 PM
Madison Capitols 2, Youngstown Phantoms 1 | VIDEO RECAP
Behind a spectacular 32-save performance from Caleb Heil, the Madison Capitols edged out the Youngstown Phantoms 2–1 on Friday night. With the victory, Madison takes a 1–0 lead in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Tyden Bergeson opened the scoring for the Caps at the 6:24 mark of the first period, scoring from the left-wing circle. Shots were even 8–8, but Madison took a 1–0 lead into the locker room after the opening 20 minutes.
After a scoreless second period, Bergeson doubled Madison’s lead near the midway point of the third, converting on a backhander off a partial breakaway.
Youngstown refused to go quietly, mounting a late surge, with Cooper Simpson finding the back of the net to make it a one-goal game. Despite the late pressure and an 11–5 shot advantage for Youngstown in the final frame, the Capitols' defensive structure held firm to secure the narrow road victory.
Heil picked up the win in net, turning aside 32-of-33.
Dubuque Fighting Saints 2, Muskegon Lumberjacks 1 | VIDEO RECAP
The Dubuque Fighting Saints relied on a late third-period surge to edge the Muskegon Lumberjacks 2–1 on Friday night. With the victory, Dubuque takes a 1–0 lead in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Semifinals.
After a scoreless 40 minutes, the deadlock finally broke midway through the third period. At 10:42, Melvin Ekman found the back of the net when he turned and fired a shot from the slot to give Dubuque the 1–0 advantage. Under eight minutes later, Xavier Lieb doubled the Saints lead in what proved to be the game-winning goal on Friday.
With their net empty, Muskegon responded with under one minute left in regulation to make it a one-goal game again. Niles Benson fired a wrister from above the left-wing circle and found the back of the net.
However, it proved to be too little, too late, as Dubuque hung on to clinch Game 1 of the series.
Vojtech Hambalek picked up the win in net for the Saints, turning aside all 25 shots sent his way.
Sioux Falls Stampede 5, Lincoln Stars 2 | VIDEO RECAP
Matthew Grimes scored twice, and Sioux Falls skated past Lincoln in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Friday.
The Stampede wasted no time asserting its dominance on home ice. Grimes opened the scoring just 3:21 into the first period, and Jake Prunty doubled the lead late in the frame with a power-play tally on a shot from the point.
Sioux Falls held an 11–8 advantage in shots on goal and took a two-goal lead into the locker room after the first 20 minutes.
Lincoln showed signs of life in the second period when Kade Kohanski cut the deficit to one at the 13:11 mark.
However, the momentum was short-lived. Grimes struck again just over two minutes later, netting his second of the night to restore the Stampede’s two-goal lead heading into the final frame.
In the third period, Anthony Bongo extended the Sioux Falls lead to 4–1, scoring from the side of the cage. While Lincoln’s Layne Loomer found the net midway through the frame to keep things interesting, the Stars could not overcome a massive 16–6 shot disadvantage in the period.
J.J. Monteiro iced the contest with an empty-netter at 18:09 to secure the Game 1 win.
Linards Feldbergs made 24 saves on 26 shots and picked up the win for Sioux Falls.
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).