Alex Shope and Eric Stricker scored twice as the Howard Huskies took a 6-3 decision over the Tri City Eagles in front of over 100 friends and family following the preseason finale for the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on Sunday.

Carl Levan carries the puck up ice for Tri City. Photo courtesy SportsAnnouncing.com

The bantam match-up started about 30 minutes after the Capitals wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.  The players enjoyed the Capitals victory then got ready just steps from where their favorite Capitals players were starting to get ready for opening night later this week.

Joe Frantzen started the scoring 4:56 into the first period with help from Matthew Cimerola to put the Huskies up 1-0.  Just 72 seconds later, Ryan Schmitz’s solo effort put the Huskies up 2-0.

With a pair of goals on the scoreboard, the teams started to get a little physical as a total of 17 penalties were called in the game.  Tri City was whistled for the first three as Nicholas Howe (roughing), Rocco Nascone (interference) and Colin Campbell (interference) all spent time in the Capitals penalty box.

Shope was whistled for elbowing 3:47 into the second period.  Justin Silverstein got a little too enthusiastic with his stick and was called for slashing midway through the period.  It was on this penalty kill, that Shope took an outlet from Brian Keeney and slipped it past Zach Richards for the short-handed tally and a 3-0 lead.  Silverstein would later find a loose puck, pass it to Stricker who would score his first of the game with 2:02 left in the second period for a four-goal lead.

Nicholas Howe checks out how much time remains in his penalty. Photo courtesy SportsAnnouncing.com

Campbell answered back for the Eagles with 66 seconds left in the second.  Patryk Bieganowski and Benjamin Williams assisted on the goal to break the shutout and close out the scoring after two periods.

The third period then became adventurous for the game’s lone on-ice official.  With Seth Tucker in the box for slashing, the Eagles power play went to work as Williams scored to cut the deficit to 4-2 only 63 seconds into the third.  Tri City would have another chance with the man advantage with Silverstein back in the box, however the Huskies were able to kill off the penalty.

Shortly before the Silverstein penalty expires, Tri City’s Carl Levan was called for tripping.  The Huskies capitalized on the opportunity and went up 5-2 on Shope’s second goal.  Payton O’Keefe and James Peters assisted on the goal at 5:06.

Alan Burd was called for checking from behind 49 seconds later to set-up another Howard power play which they converted on Striker’s second of the game with help from Zach Landow.

The Eagles would try to soar again with 5:58 left in the third on Joey Bufalini’s goal from Nascone.  It would be the last chance for the Eagles to score as they only mustered a pair of third-period shots on Mitch Daro who came in midway through the second period for Matt Nagle (three saves, win).

Zach Richards took the loss for Tri City in turning aside 37 shots.

Metro DC DJs & Entertainment Three Stars of the Game
3.  Benjamin Williams (Tri City) goal, assist
2.  Erick Stricker (Howard) two goals
1.  Alex Shope (Howard) power-play goal, short-handed goal