The Midget AAA Central Plains Capitals managed to come out on top tonight over the Eastman Selects by a final score of 6-2.

The first period was a close-checking, defensive affair that saw both Capitals' goalie Rhett Boschman and Selects goalie Danton Belluk make key saves to keep the score knotted at 0-0.  Portage controlled much of the play but was unable to put anything past Belluk.

It would be Eastman that would strike first, however.  Matthew Hill would make no mistake on a two on one that Boschman didn't have a chance on.  The Capitals would continue to dominate much of the puck-possession battle but couldn't find a way to get lots of quality chances on Belluk.  Halfway through the period, Capitals captain Reilly Funk went hard to the net and was brought down on top of Belluk who appeared shaken up after the play but would stay in.  The Selects would take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room.

The Capitals came out ready to play in the third and started getting more quality chances on Belluk. 31 seconds into the frame, Max Neill would bang in a rebound for the Caps first of the game and tie the score at 1.  But Central Plains wasn't done yet.  Less than five minutes later, Funk would send a wicked wrist shot from the slot past the glove of Belluk giving the Caps the lead.  Then, Neill would walk off the sideboards and pick the top corner on Belluk for a 3-1 lead.  The Selects finally woke up.  Jesse Mistelbacher would bang in a juicy rebound from Boschman to draw Eastman within one.  The Caps would get it back on a two on one of their own as Alex Cattani would put the Capitals up 4-2. Caps leading scorer Tyler Van Deynze got into the action when he rushed in and sent a wrister past Belluk from the high slot.  Belluk continued to look shaken up from the hit he received earlier.  After the Van Deynze goal, he would be relieved by Justin Powers who would fare no better.  Cameron Trimble would bang in a rebound on the powerplay to make it six goals in the third period for the Capitals.  

Max Niell, who finished the night with two goals had this to say about his team's play.

"The boys just put it together tonight we've been on a bit of a skid but we got some fresh legs with (Logan) Calder back and I thought we had great chemistry out there and just scoring goals today."

Logan Calder spoke about what it was like to be back in the line-up after being injured for the past eight weeks.

"I was a little nervous at first coming back, wasn't sure how the hitting would feel but got more into the game felt pretty good and connected well with my linemates from the start.  It was a good game to come back to."

The Caps don't have much time to rest as they will be on the road tomorrow afternoon when they face the Winnipeg Thrashers.  Puck drop is 3:30 p.m.