The Waterloo Black Hawks only played one game during the weekend, but they did two nights worth of scoring Saturday in an 8-2 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks at Young Arena.
It was Waterloo's biggest offensive effort since a 9-2 win against the Des Moines Buccaneers in February of 2022. The Hawks and Lumberjacks had not played each other in an even longer span; the teams were meeting for the first time since January 24, 2020.
Making up for lost time, the Black Hawks scored the night's initial goal during the waning seconds of a five-on-three first period power play. Jacob Delaney's shot had missed the net, but John Mustard found the puck on the right boards, moving from there to score on a wrister while gliding across the slot at 11:52.
Just over two minutes later, the Hawks added to the lead while the teams skated five-on-five. Reid Morich brought the puck into the offensive zone, setting up Tommy Cronin. He made an extra pass which left Eero Butella with an open side tap in at 14:11.
However, the Lumberjacks answered near the end of their next power play. Easton Young held in a clearing attempt, setting up Hunter Anderson to score on a low shot from the right circle at 16:16.
The onslaught was on in the second period; Waterloo scored the first of five goals during the frame 63 second out of the break. Skating on the power play, Teddy Townsend flipped in his chance when a puck rebounded his way near the left edge of the crease.
The next one was shorthanded one minute, 59 seconds later. Connor Brown lulled the Lumberjacks to sleep, casually carrying the puck to the Muskegon blue line. Then he accelerated into the zone on a two-on-one with Carson Reed. Brown connected with the defenseman to score from close range.
Waterloo had just killed a penalty at 10:25 when Delaney swiped a puck for a two-on-one look with Brown. Delaney took the shot himself from the right circle, putting the chance in off the opposite post and getting it to stick in the net behind the back bar.
Jaedon Kerr added another from the high slot against relief netminder Lukas Swedin as the teams skated four-on-four at 14:11. Just over two minutes later, Tommy Cronin notched his first in the USHL on shot that looked similar to Delaney's chance from earlier in the period.
Each team scored a power play goal from close range in the third. Justin Solovey stuffed in a Muskegon chance at 7:40. Gavin Lindberg answered at 10:39, with the puck actually pushed across the goal line by Sasha Boisvert in an attempt to freeze it under Swedin's pad.
Saturday's win gave the Hawks a 4-1-0 mark during the season's longest homestand.
The Black Hawks go on the road for their next two games, taking on the Tri-City Storm in Kearney, Nebraska, next Friday and Saturday.
Muskegon 1 0 1 - 2
Waterloo 2 5 1 - 8
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Mustard 7 (Delaney, Townsend), 11:52 (PP). 2, Waterloo, Butella 2 (Cronin, Morich), 14:11. 3, Muskegon, Anderson 8 (Young), 16:11 (PP). Penalties-Mustard Wat (tripping), 4:17; Raftery Mus (slashing), 9:55; Croal Mus (boarding, 10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 11:29; Solovey Mus (roughing), 11:29; Lindberg Wat (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 11:29; Thoreson Wat (roughing), 11:29; Mustard Wat (hooking), 14:26.
2nd Period-4, Waterloo, Townsend 2 (Deering, Mustard), 1:03 (PP). 5, Waterloo, Reed 2 (Brown), 3:02 (SH). 6, Waterloo, Delaney 2 10:25. 7, Waterloo, Kerr 3 (Townsend, Miller), 14:11. 8, Waterloo, Cronin 1 (Vachon), 16:26. Penalties-Nordberg Mus (interference), 0:14; Aucoin Mus (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 2:02; Morich Wat (instigator, game misconduct - instigator, major-fighting), 2:02; Zlnka Wat (tripping), 8:05; Berry Mus (roughing), 12:47; Mustard Wat (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:47.
3rd Period-9, Muskegon, Solovey 6 (Raftery, Gridin), 7:40 (PP). 10, Waterloo, Lindberg 4 (Brown, Miller), 10:39 (PP). Penalties-Phelan Wat (holding), 6:54; Gridin Mus (roughing), 9:17; McInnis Wat (roughing), 9:17; Klee Mus (slashing), 9:27.
Shots on Goal-Muskegon 8-6-7-21. Waterloo 7-16-8-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Muskegon 2 / 5; Waterloo 3 / 4.
Goalies-Muskegon, Geisel 5-1-0-1 (17 shots-12 saves); Swedin 3-1-1-0 (14 shots-11 saves). Waterloo, Vachon 5-1-0-0 (21 shots-19 saves).
A-2,481
