Griffin Erdman notched four points and Patrick Geary scored the overtime winner during a 5-4 Friday night Waterloo Black Hawks victory at Young Arena against the Des Moines Buccaneers.
Erdman's hat trick was the first by a Black Hawk during the regular season since Ray Fust's three-goal game against the Buccaneers last spring on April 22nd. The three goals doubled Erdman's season total.
Following a tense but scoreless third period with the teams tied 4-4, Geary provided the decisive score on a breakaway at 1:49. An odd-man Buccaneer rush had broken down near the side of the Waterloo net; Myles Hilman's homerun pass hit the Waterloo defenseman halfway up the ice. Geary stepped up the slot, snapping the puck past Jan Korec to the stick side.
Friday's result moves the Hawks to 2-0 in overtime games during 2022/23.
The Black Hawks had opened and closed the first period in ideal fashion. Just 49 seconds into the game, Ben Robertson was moving across the high slot before sending a wrister toward the net. The puck was tipped by Erdman, past Korec, trickling across the goal line.
Des Moines tied the game at 4:28; Carter Batchelder had the first chance after a takeaway. The rebound of his initial shot was swatted in by Davis Borozinskis.
Waterloo went back to the lead with two in the latter stages. Sustained pressure and a failed clear allowed David Klee to set up Erdman near the top of the left circle, and Erdman fired in a shot to the stick side. Then on the power play with 12.2 seconds to go, Zach Bade zinged a wrister to the top corner past Korec's glove.
The Buccaneers were turned away on two early second period power plays but capitalized on a third. A clearing attempt hit linesman Jordan Staples and allowed Des Moines to regroup quickly; Joey Muldowney went to the front of the net, scoring on a one-touch chance under the crossbar at 7:26. The visitors tied the game less than two minutes later; Talon Sigurdson capitalized from a sharp angle after a turnover near the icing line right of the net.
Des Moines' only lead resulted from a tally at 12:03 when Gustav Stjernberg's shot from the right point beat a screened Jack Spicer.
However, the score was level at intermission thanks to a second Hawks power play conversion at 16:00. Erdman completed his hat trick after taking a feed from Robertson, moving to the slot, and beating Korec from between the rings.
Spicer finished with the win and 20 saves as Waterloo outshot Des Moines 42-24.
Since October 30th, the Black Hawks have rarely left Young Arena. A sequence of 12-out-of-13 on home ice ends on Saturday when Waterloo meets Cedar Rapids at 6:05 p.m. Discounted tickets are available for UAW members. It is also a United States Air Force College Night, with $10 seats while supplies last. Visit the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office or call (319) 291-7680 to order.
Des Moines 1 3 0 0 - 4
Waterloo 3 1 0 1 - 5
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Erdman 4 (Robertson, Geary), 0:49. 2, Des Moines, Borozinskis 3 (Batchelder), 4:28. 3, Waterloo, Erdman 5 (Klee, Flynn), 14:58. 4, Waterloo, Bade 3 (Brown, Erdman), 19:45 (PP). Penalties-Gramer Dm (roughing), 18:47.
2nd Period-5, Des Moines, Muldowney 6 (Borozinskis, Deschenes), 7:26 (PP). 6, Des Moines, Sigurdson 4 (Astapovich), 9:08. 7, Des Moines, Stjernberg 2 (Astapovich, Van Rooyan), 12:03. 8, Waterloo, Erdman 6 (Robertson, Broberg), 16:00 (PP). Penalties-Flynn Wat (high sticking), 0:23; Badger Wat (high sticking), 3:45; Pionk Wat (interference), 6:05; Pineau Dm (interference), 15:31.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Baker Wat (tripping), 9:35; Borozinskis Dm (interference), 10:56.
1st OT Period-9, Waterloo, Geary 3 (Hilman), 1:49. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Des Moines 8-10-6-0-24. Waterloo 18-12-11-1-42.
Power Play Opportunities-Des Moines 1 / 4; Waterloo 2 / 3.
Goalies-Des Moines, Korec 2-5-2-1 (42 shots-37 saves). Waterloo, Spicer 7-2-0-0 (24 shots-20 saves).
A-1,617
Referees-Chazz Knoche.
Linesmen-Dane Hopkins, Default Linesman.
