Just over a month ago, the Waterloo Black Hawks defeated the Des Moines Buccaneers 5-4 in overtime at Young Arena; the score and the circumstances were the same on Saturday in the Bucs' first visit since that meeting.
Gavin O'Connell scored the winner at 2:30 as Waterloo controlled the puck for the vast majority of three-on-three play. The second-year Hawks forward came up right wing and gained the line before turning to the high-slot. He crossed to the opposite circle, but then quickly reversed course back between the rings before rifling a shot under the crossbar.
The win pushes Waterloo's record to 6-0 in games settled by overtimes and shootouts this season. The Hawks have also now won six consecutive games overall. To earn Saturday's result, they had to come back from three separate one-goal deficits, despite tallying the game's opening score.
Garrett Schifsky's tenacious play on the right boards created the only goal during the first period. At 11:54, Schifsky worked the puck loose as the teams were coming back to full strength after a four-on-four shift. After the Hawks won control, a feed across the slot clicked with Gennadi Chaly, who buried his shot into an open side.
That tame first period was followed by an eventful second. Des Moines denied a Black Hawks power play, then scored on the ensuing shift when a turnover setup Chase Ramsey alone in the slot at 4:52. Almost ten minutes later, Lubomir Kupco tipped in a shot by Aiden Van Rooyan, to nudge the visitors ahead.
Sam Rinzel tied the game at 15:59. When his initial shot was stopped, Rinzel collected the rebound, cut behind the net, and came out on the other side to pick the top corner with a shot from the right circle.
Buccaneers leading scorer Jak Vaarwerk established a new 3-2 Des Moines lead with a power play conversion from the right circle at 17:00.
Yet the game went to intermission tied when Aaron Pionk became the third different Hawks defenseman to score. With 1.7 seconds to go, the Hawks forced a turnover on the right wing boards. Connor Brown and Griffin Erdman combined to setup Pionk in the slot and he beat Jan Korec to the stick side.
Des Moines went to the lead again 4:48 into the third period. By jamming up the left boards, the Bucs held in a clearing attempt, and Christian Kocsis came off the wall to squeeze in a shot.
The last lead of regulation was erased during a Waterloo power play at 9:22. Ben Robertson's attempt from the deep slot yielded his first goal of the season, with his chance eluding Korec to his stick side.
The visitors had a prime opportunity to tip the score minutes later when they went to a five-on-three power play for almost a minute. Waterloo came through the stretch unscathed and finished the night four-for-five on the penalty kill.
Netminder Jack Spicer delivered the best of his 24 saves against Kupco with under five minutes to go, as the Buccaneer forward cut to the net in transition. With 14 wins, Spicer is currently tied for second in the USHL.
The Hawks go back on the road for games next Friday and Saturday against the Chicago Steel and Dubuque Fighting Saints respectively.
Des Moines 0 3 1 0 - 4
Waterloo 1 2 1 1 - 5
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Chaly 6 (Schifsky, Brown), 11:54. Penalties-Baker Wat (high sticking), 2:06; Stjernberg Dm (holding), 9:51; Erdman Wat (tripping), 9:54.
2nd Period-2, Des Moines, Ramsay 3 (Kupco, Batchelder), 4:52. 3, Des Moines, Kupco 8 (Van Rooyan, Batchelder), 14:42. 4, Waterloo, Rinzel 3 (Geary, Baker), 15:59. 5, Des Moines, Vaarwerk 7 (West, Muldowney), 17:00 (PP). 6, Waterloo, Pionk 7 (Erdman, Brown), 19:59. Penalties-Batchelder Dm (tripping), 2:25; Bade Wat (high sticking), 16:36.
3rd Period-7, Des Moines, Kocsis 7 (Vaarwerk), 4:48. 8, Waterloo, Robertson 1 (Schifsky, Bade), 9:22 (PP). Penalties-Stjernberg Dm (interference), 8:20; Klee Wat (high sticking), 10:58; Schifsky Wat (cross checking), 12:06.
1st OT Period-9, Waterloo, O'Connell 8 (Baker), 2:30. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Des Moines 7-12-9-0-28. Waterloo 13-13-16-2-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Des Moines 1 / 5; Waterloo 1 / 3.
Goalies-Des Moines, Korec 3-6-3-1 (44 shots-39 saves). Waterloo, Spicer 14-4-0-0 (28 shots-24 saves).
A-3,006
Referees-Ryan Siegel.
Linesmen-Jake Paugh, Reilly Hickey.
