BLOCKING THE CAPITOLS: The U18s travel to play the Capitols on Friday and Saturday night. These are the first two meetings with the Capitols this season, with two more contests in March. The Madison Capitols are 15-15-1-2 (W-L-OTL-SOL) in USHL play this season and currently seventh in the Eastern Conference.

In its match-up last season with the Capitols, the U18s won 7-5, with a hat-trick from Scott Reedy (2015-17/Univ. of Minnesota), a two-goal night from Sean Dhooghe (2015-17/Univ. of Wisconsin), and additional goals from Jacob Tortora (2015-17/Boston College) and Max Gildon (2015-17/Univ. of New Hampshire).

Capitols Top Scorers: Alec Broetzman (15-15-30 in 33 GP), Mick Messner (9-17-26 in 33 GP), Ryan O’Reilly (16-6-22 in 31 GP)

Capitols Plus-Minus Leaders: Jared Kucharek (+9), Mick Messner (+6), Misha Song (+3)

Capitols Goaltender: Dryden McKay (14-10-1-2 in 29 GP, 3.13 GAA, .910 SV%)

2016-17 Results/Schedule vs. Madison Capitols: November 11, 2016, U18s vs. Madison (L, 4-2); November 12, 2016, U18s vs. Madison (W, 4-1); December 16, 2016, U18s @ Madison (W, 5-2); December 17, 2016, U18s @ Madison (W, 7-5)

NTDP All-Time Record vs. Madison Capitols: 7-5-1 (W-L-OTL) Home: 3-3-1 Road: 4-2-0

FALLING STARS: The U17s host the Lincoln Stars on Friday and Saturday night. These will be the only two meetings between the two teams this season. Lincoln is currently 14-18-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) in USHL play this season and last in the Western Conference.

In their game last season, Team USA fell to the Stars, 7-3. Evan Barratt (2015-17/Penn. State), Jake Wise (Reading, Mass.), and Grant Mismash (2015-17/Univ. of North Dakota) scored in the loss.

Stars Top Scorers: Casey Dornbach (13-20-33 in 33 GP), Ashton Calder (7-14-21 in 30 GP), Dominick Mersch (11-9-20 in 31 GP)

Stars Plus-Minus Leaders: Mason Klee (+7), Ashton Calder (+7), Wyatt Aamodt (+4)

Stars Goaltenders: Derek Schaedig (6-4-0-1 in 12 GP, 2.94 GAA, .894 SV%), Tomas Vomacka (8-14-0-0 in 23 GP, 3.10 GAA, .894 SV%)

2016-17 Results/Schedule vs. Lincoln Stars: March 10, 2017, U18s @ Lincoln (W, 4-3); March 11, 2017, U18s @ Lincoln (L, 7-3)

NTDP All-Time Record vs. Lincoln Stars: 9-6-2 (W-L-OTL) Home: 3-3-2 Road: 6-3-0