MADISON CAPITOLS: After dropping a game in Madison on Saturday night, the Under-17 Team looks for revenge as the Capitols make the return trip to USA Hockey Arena for the lone U17 game of the week.

Madison enters in fifth place in the USHL's Eastern Conference, sporting a 27-21-4-2 record and closing in on clinching a Clark Cup Playoffs berth.

NTDP alum Austin Burnevik continues to lead the league in goals, as the St. Cloud State commit has potted 37 in 53 games played this season. His 63 total points places him in the top-10 of all USHL scorers. Andrew Kuzma has pitched in 24 goals and 43 points, while James Hong (16g-32a--48pts) and Max Nagel (18g-22a--40pts) have been productive as well.

On the blue line, Jack Henry's six goals, 17 assists and 23 total points leads all Caps defensemen.

In net, it's another NTDP alum in Carsen Musser leading the way for the Capitols. The Sherburn, Minn., native has a 15-10-2-2 record, 2.78 GAA and .904 SV% in 29 appearances this year. He has been the lead netminder in a close split with Patriks Berzins, who has a 3.33 GAA and .892 SV% in his 25 games of action.

After Thursday's game, the U17s will head right back out to Madison next weekend to finish the season series with a pair of games on April 5-6 at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena.

DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS: After a weekend off, the U.S. National Under-18 Team returns to the ice with a pair of games in Eastern Iowa to take on the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The Fighting Saints sit atop the Eastern Conference and locked into a playoff spot with a 37-12-3-3 record as they continue to play for a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Jake Sondreal leads the team with 69 points (27g-42a), while Noah Powell owns the team lead in goals with 35, to give him 64 points on the season.

Dubuque acquired NTDP alum Beckett Hendrickson at the USHL Trade Deadline, and the University of Minnesota commit has tallied seven points (3g-4a) in nine games since taking a turn in the lineup.

Finnish defender Joona Vaisanen leads the d-corps in goals (8), assists (26), points (34) and +/- (+26). An additional pair of blueliners have added 28 points, including another NTDP alum in Seamus Powell (4g-24a) and Fisher Scott (7g-21a).

Kevin Reidler remains the lone qualified netminder for the Fighting Saints. The Swede has posted an extremely impressive 25-5-2-2 record, 2.92 GAA and .901 SV% in 35 games. The win total is tied for 1st among all USHL goaltenders while his GAA and SV% place him in the top-10 of all league netminders.

The U18s took the first and only game between the two teams thus far, a 6-5 OT win back on September 23 at the USHL Fall Classic.