MIDDLETON, Wis. - JP Hurlbert (Allen, Texas) and  Lukas Zajic (Plainfield, Ill.) tallied three points apiece, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Madison Capitols tonight inside Bob Suter's Legacy20 Arena.

Hurlbert got the U.S. on the board 2:08 into the middle frame, skating up the right wing and firing five-hole from the doorstep after Zajic chipped him the puck in the neutral zone.

Zajic found the equalizer 3:43 later. Hurlbert intercepted a pass in the defensive zone, came flying towards the Madison net with Zajic and slid him a picture-perfect pass across the paint for the finish.

Zajic brought Team USA its first lead of the weekend with 4:08 left in the period with a one-timer from the left circle off a feed from Hurlbert. Logan Lutner (Maple Grove, Minn.) earned an assist as well.

A Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.) power-play goal doubled the U.S. lead as he potted one from just outside the paint. Tyler Martyniuk (Washington Twp., Mich.) sent a shot on net from the point and Madison netminder Caleb Heil made the initial stop, but AJ Garcia (Romeoville, Ill.) picked up the rebound and found a waiting Berchild for the finish with 2:08 on the clock.

Colton Jamieson brought the Capitols within one 5:40 into the final frame, then John Stout knotted things 9:33 later. Ryker Lee put the game on ice with a power-play goal with .6 seconds on the clock.

Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.) finished with a career-high 39 saves in net.

The U17s are back at USA Hockey Arena next Friday, Nov. 22 as they host the Green Bay Gamblers. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.