MIDDLETON — Give Cody Strang some space on the ice and he's going to make an opposing defense look silly.

Give the Madison Edgewood senior forward some extra motivation and he's going to put on a show.

Frustrated after a poor showing at a recent tournament in Duluth, Minn., Strang had three goals — all off assists from sophomore linemate Gage Maurer — to lead the Crusaders to a 3-2 non-conference boys hockey victory over Middleton on Tuesday night at Capitol Ice Arena.

Needless to say, the 6-hour ride home — after going 1-2 in the Duluth Marshall Tournament — wasn't exactly as fun.

"We were the No. 1 team in the state going up there," said Strang, a University of Wisconsin recruit. "And to play like that, it's embarrassing. I think we made a point to start working harder."

The Crusaders (7-2-1), ranked sixth in the state by Wisconsin Prep Hockey, killed off a nerve-racking power play — compliments of a pair of edge-of-your-seat saves by sophomore Brad Jerzewski (29 saves) — in the final 1:56 to seal the victory over the seventh-ranked Cardinals (8-1-1).

"I actually like those situations where it's down to one goal and the pressure is on," Jerzewski said. "I don't really get nervous under pressure."

After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, Edgewood skated out of the first intermission with more fire, and tied the game just 33 seconds into the second when Strang tipped home a feed from Maurer.

Strang then gave the Crusaders a 2-1 lead at 7:07 in the second, skating hard left before slamming on the brakes, shifting to the right and burying a shot into the back of the net.

"It's nothing that we don't see in practice everyday," Jerzewski said of Strang. "Just an amazing athlete."

Later in the second on an Edgewood power play — and when all the momentum appeared to be on Edgewood's side — the Crusaders turned it over near mid-ice and Middleton's Brett Skibba converted a 2-on-1 break to tie the game at 2 at 13:49.

But Strang answered again, taking a cross-ice pass from Maurer in the third period on the power play, winding up at the point and blasting home the winner at 8:31.

It was Strang's 19th goal and 32nd point in 10 games.

Entering Tuesday, previously undefeated Middleton had outscored opponents 41-7 in eight victories. But those eight teams have a combined record of 27-45-2.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead on Skibba's first goal at 4:29 in the first. Fellow sophomore forward Todd Koritzinsky zinged a wrister that was stopped by Jerzewski. But the rebound came out front, bounced around and caromed off Skibba's skate and into the back of the net.

Despite getting 13 shots and a ton of pressure on net in the second, Middleton only came away with one goal.

"We didn't take what was given," coach Steve Libert said. "We would get the puck and rather then making a quick first breakout pass we'd look for the home run pass. And then we'd hold on to the puck too long and we'd be getting hit. And now it's stuck in our end for another 20 seconds."

Madison Edgewood 0 2 1 — 3

Middleton 1 1 0 — 2

First period: Mi — Skibba (Kracht), 4:29.

Second period: ME — Strang (Maurer), :33; Strang (Maurer), 7:07. Mi — Skibba (Kracht), 13:49 (sh).

Third period: ME — Strang (Maurer), 8:31 (pp).

Saves: ME (Jerzewski) 29; Mi (Smith) 26.

Penalties: ME 3-6, Mi 8-16.