Dubuque's two top point-producers and a newcomer led the Fighting Saints past the Waterloo Black Hawks 5-2 at Young Arena on Wednesday night.
Offensive leader Ryan St. Louis notched a goal and two assists. High-scoring defenseman Max Burkholder hit the net twice. However Brayden Morrison's solid first period during his Dubuque debut swung the contest toward the visitors.
Zach Bade's goal had put the Hawks ahead briefly in the opening period. At 4:05, Bade was positioned outside the crease and spiked a loose puck into the net after Gavin Lindberg's wraparound try at the opposite side of the crease.
Morrison made the plays which allowed the Fighting Saints to tie the score, then take the lead before intermission. Just 50 seconds after Bade's goal, Morrison was able to fend off a Black Hawks near the side of the Waterloo goal, dropping a pass to Burkholder. The defenseman lifted in the equalizer, and Waterloo would never lead again.
The with half a second remaining in the period, Morrison provided the go-ahead score. Jake Sondreal chased down a puck in the Waterloo zone and feathered a pass to Morrison for his successful chance before the horn could sound.
In the second, the Fighting Saints extended their lead with goals on two of their five shots. They converted an early transition chance at 5:38 when Michael Burchill slung a pass to Owen Michaels. He redirected it in off the post.
Waterloo drew back within one at 7:17; Owen Baker rimmed the puck behind the net to Griffin Erdman. He set up Myles Hilman for a pointblank score from the edge of the crease. The goal ties Hilman with Garrett Schifsky for the Hawks' team lead with nine this season.
However, Dubuque went to intermission ahead by two thanks to a power play conversion with 38.6 seconds to go. Burkholder fired in his second of the night from the left circle after receiving a cross-ice feed.
After a pair of assists in the second, St. Louis scored the only goal in the third, hitting the opposite top corner on a rush up left wing with 5:09 to go. During the frame, Waterloo did not score despite a 19-4 shots advantage. For the game, the Hawks took 41 shots to the Saints' 18, with Paxton Geisel making 39 saves.
The Hawks are on the road Friday in Sioux Falls against the Stampede. Then the month wraps up with the annual New Year's Eve game Saturday at 6:05; this year, Waterloo hosts the Youngstown Phantoms. Seats are available by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or online from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.
Dubuque 2 2 1 - 5
Waterloo 1 1 0 - 2
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Bade 4 (Lindberg, Robertson), 4:05. 2, Dubuque, Burkholder 7 (Morrison, Montes), 4:55. 3, Dubuque, Morrison 1 (Sondreal, Jubenvill), 19:59. Penalties-Scott Dbq (holding), 6:56.
2nd Period-4, Dubuque, Michaels 6 (Burchill, St. Louis), 5:38. 5, Waterloo, Hilman 9 (Erdman, Baker), 7:17. 6, Dubuque, Burkholder 8 (St. Louis, St. Louis), 19:22 (PP). Penalties-Sondreal Dbq (hooking), 0:21; Erdman Wat (tripping), 17:55.
3rd Period-7, Dubuque, St. Louis 9 (Geisel), 14:51. Penalties-Dick Dbq (slashing), 6:49; Scott Dbq (roughing), 15:17.
Shots on Goal-Dubuque 9-5-4-18. Waterloo 6-16-19-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Dubuque 1 / 1; Waterloo 0 / 4.
Goalies-Dubuque, Geisel 6-5-1-0 (41 shots-39 saves). Waterloo, Croteau 6-7-0-0 (18 shots-13 saves).
A-2,613
