For the third time in the last four games, the Waterloo Black Hawks went to overtime and came away with a victory; Saturday's win came by an official final of 4-3 over the Omaha Lancers in a shootout at Liberty First Credit Union Arena.
As in the prior wins against Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, the Hawks had to erase a deficit to reach the extra period. Waterloo is now 4-0 in overtime and shootout situations during 2022/23
The Lancers lurched into the lead at 7:44 of the opening period. Vincent Salice was trying to gain control of the puck but it slipped away. However, that turned out to be fortunate for the Lancers, because the puck surprised Emmett Croteau and slipped in. Croteau stopped Omaha's other 11 first period opportunities.
Waterloo was held to three shots on goal during the opening 20 minutes, but the Hawks quickly doubled that count in the early minutes of the second and kept shooting all period. However it was the Lancers who scored the next goal, making it 2-0 at 7:56. Luke Amell tipped a shot originating from the right point, and a review confirmed it was not redirected by a high stick.
Waterloo sprang back in the subsequent shifts. Just 57 seconds later, the Hawks capitalized on a two-on-one as Zach Bade fed Connor Brown. The second-year forward got Michael Hrabal to bite on an initial move, leaving an open side to flip in a backhander. Then at 12:15, Gavin O'Connell tied the game with a shot from the left circle as traffic swirled around the netfront.
The Hawks took their first lead of the game at 4:07 of the third. Oliver Flynn had a chance at the post left of Hrabal. When his first try was stopped, he banged in his own rebound over the netminder's left pad.
The lead lasted just over 12 minutes; Omaha tied it off a faceoff win when Aleksi Kiveoja's quick release beat Croteau inside the post to his left.
Croteau staved off the Lancers in the remaining minutes, including a remarkable save on Tanner Rowe with 35 seconds to go, kicking out his leg while otherwise down on the ice.
The Hawks had a 5-2 edge in overtime shots, but the score was unchanged after five minutes. James Hong converted Waterloo's first shootout chance, scoring on a low shot, but Reese Laubach flipped in an answer. Croteau turned away Omaha's other three attempts, with Myles Hilman scoring the decisive goal in the fourth round, beating Hrabal to the stick side.
Croteau's win came with 34 saves. He is now 10th in career regular season victories during the Hawks' junior era. The Alberta native has won 29 times since joining the team in 2020/21.
The Black Hawks have now reached the United States Hockey League's holiday break and are off for the next ten days. When the team returns from their Christmas sojourn, they take on the Dubuque Fighting Saints at Young Arena Wednesday, December 28th at 7:05 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a set of Black Hawks jersey cups. It's also a United States Air Force College Night, with $10 tickets for all college students with ID. Call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com to order your seats.
Waterloo 0 2 1 0 - 4
Omaha 1 1 1 0 - 3
1st Period-1, Omaha, Salice 6 (Laubach), 7:43. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-2, Omaha, Amell 1 (Shedd, Beahm), 7:56. 3, Waterloo, Brown 5 (Bade), 8:52. 4, Waterloo, O'Connell 4 (Robertson, Klee), 12:15. Penalties-Flynn Wat (checking from behind), 15:59; Cardona Oma (tripping), 18:07.
3rd Period-5, Waterloo, Flynn 2 (Klee), 4:07. 6, Omaha, Kivioja 4 (Diamond, Rowe), 16:12. Penalties-Hilman Wat (tripping), 6:31; Klee Wat (head contact), 9:57; Benoit Oma (slashing), 10:29.
1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout - Waterloo 2 (Hong G, Bade NG, O'Connell NG, Hilman G), Omaha 1 (Laubach G, Salice NG, Lurie NG, Montgomery NG).
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 3-13-9-5-1-31. Omaha 12-8-15-2-0-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 0 / 1; Omaha 0 / 3.
Goalies-Waterloo, Croteau 5-6-0-0 (37 shots-34 saves). Omaha, Hrabal 5-6-3-1 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-3,396
Referees-David Lilly.
Linesmen-Default Linesman, Reilly Hickey.
