MADISON CAPITOLS:  The Madison Capitols represent the lone NTDP opponent of the weekend as they take a trip to USA Hockey Arena to take on both the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams.

Madison comes into the weekend sitting in fourth place in the USHL's Eastern Conference, three points ahead of Team USA. The Caps played just one game last weekend, a 3-2 loss in Youngstown on Friday night.

Finn Brink and Max Nagel, two Minnesota natives, have led the Capitols' offensive surge through eight games as each skater has posted a team-high 10 points, with five goals and five assists. In addition, Andrew Kuzma has pitched in five goals and Jake Rozzi has a team-high seven helpers.

Madison rosters three NTDP alums from last season's Under-18 Team. Austin Burnevik has put up seven points (4g-3a) and defenseman Nathan Tobey has added a pair of assists. In net, Carsen Musser has been one-half of the Madison tandem and he has a 2-1-1 record, 3.69 GAA and .876 SV% in four appearances this season.

The other goaltender is Latvian Patriks Berzins, who has been excellent in his four starts this year. The University of Maine commit has a 3-1-0 record, 1.51 GAA and .955 SV%, both of which place him among the top-4 goaltenders in the USHL.

While the U17s will see Madison four more times this year after the weekend, the U18s will only get the Capitols once more, on March 2, 2024 back at USA Hockey Arena.