Tkachuk's Hat Trick Helps Propel U18s Past Madison, 6-3

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

Tkachuk's Hat Trick Helps Propel U18s Past Madison, 6-3

By USA Hockey, 02/22/15, 2:00AM EST

Matthew Tkachuk Scores Three; Jack Roslovic Records Three-Point Night.

MADISON, Wis. - Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) scored three goals and Jack Roslovic (Columbus, Ohio) recorded a three-point (1-2) night as the U.S. National Under-18 Team ousted the Madison Capitols, 6-3, here tonight at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Last night, Team USA took the first game of the mini-series winning, 9-2.

The U.S. opened the scoring at 15:27 of the first frame when Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) lit the lamp. Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) collected assists. Tkachuk scored his first of three at 16:08 on the power play, doubling Team USA's lead, 2-0. Charles McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Krys) assisted.

Madison responded with a two-goal middle frame to knot the game before the difference was settled in the third.

Tkachuk grabbed back the lead for the U18s just 2:18 into the final period. Roslovic and McAvoy teamed together to set up the play. Roslovic found the back of the net at 5:54 with Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) earning the lone assist to double the U.S. advantage, now 4-2. Tkachuk's third goal, potted at 13:48, gave Team USA a three-goal cushion. Despite a late tally by the Capitols and pulling of its goaltender in favor of the extra attacker, Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) sealed the win for the U18s with an empty-net goal just inside the one-minute mark.

Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) got the nod in net for the Under-18 Team and kicked out 19 shots in the victory.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team has a short turnaround as they face a North American Hockey League prospects squad at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament on Monday (Feb. 23). The game starts at 7 p.m. ET and can be seen live online at FASTHockey.com.

Notes

Team USA outshot Madison, 50-22 ... The U.S. went 1-4 on the power play while the Capitols were 0-1 ... This weekend marks the final games between the National Team Development Program and Madison in 2014-15. The Under-17 Team split a two-game set against the Capitols last weekend in Ann Arbor, winning, 4-3, in overtime Friday before falling, 6-3, in the series finale ... NTDP product Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./2001-03) is the Capitols’ team chairman.