It was Garrett Schifsky's birthday, and he invited everyone to his party on Saturday as the Waterloo Black Hawks edged the Fargo Force 2-1 in overtime.
Waterloo's captain turned 20 and celebrated by scoring the game-winning goal less than five seconds before the matchup would have been settled by a shootout. It was the Hawks' 12th overtime or shootout victory in 2022/23. It also gave Waterloo a 10-8 edge in standings points during the now-completed seven-game series versus the Western Conference leaders.
The Force had a couple of early opportunities in overtime and controlled the puck for much of the extra time. During the final minute, it became a scramble, and after the Hawks were forced out of the offensive zone, they regrouped for one more chance. Griffin Erdman carried the puck across the blue line, slipping it to Ben Robertson at the top of the left circle. Robertson paused long enough for Schifsky to come speeding across the blue line, then saucered a pass that Schifsky buried past Matej Marinov's glove at 4:55.
The only goal during the game's first 58 minutes had given Waterloo an edge at 15:31 of the first period. The Hawks recovered a disrupted centering pass, with Owen Baker slipping the puck back to Jaedon Kerr at the blue line. Kerr backpeddled to put himself in position to send a low wrister toward the net, and Griffin Erdman tipped it past Marinov's stick side.
The score held, despite three second period Waterloo power plays. Amidst the second of those, Emmett Croteau denied Anthony Menghini's shorthanded breakaway at 7:33, the forced Menghini to flip the puck wide on the penalty shot he was awarded after the play.
Croteau was within 65 seconds of a shutout when the Force tallied their lone goal with a sixth attacker on the ice. Owen Mehlenbacher gained control of the puck beside the net and fed a pass to Cole Knuble, who swatted in the equalizer from just a few feet above the crease.
Croteau made 13 other saves in the third period and two in overtime to earn the win. He ended the night with 32 saves as each team put 33 shots on goal.
The Hawks play on the road next Friday then home Saturday against the Omaha Lancers and Sioux City Musketeers respectively. Seats are available for Saturday's game at Young Arena from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.
Fargo 0 0 1 0 - 1
Waterloo 1 0 0 1 - 2
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Erdman 16 (Kerr, Baker), 15:31. Penalties-Matikka Wat (cross checking), 8:11; Gruba Fgo (tripping), 12:00; Knuble Fgo (hooking), 15:46; Croteau Wat (tripping), 19:12; Mehlenbacher Fgo (roughing), 19:48; Kerr Wat (roughing), 19:48.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Scott Fgo (high sticking), 2:55; Merens Fgo (bench minor-too many men), 6:32; Gruba Fgo (holding), 10:11; Turner Fgo (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 17:16; Baker Wat (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 17:16.
3rd Period-2, Fargo, Knuble 30 (Mehlenbacher, Boser), 18:55. Penalties-Brown Wat (holding), 11:50.
1st OT Period-3, Waterloo, Schifsky 25 (Robertson, Erdman), 4:55. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Fargo 11-6-14-2-33. Waterloo 9-14-6-4-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Fargo 0 / 3; Waterloo 0 / 5.
Goalies-Fargo, Marinov 20-3-2-3 (33 shots-31 saves). Waterloo, Croteau 15-10-0-0 (33 shots-32 saves).
A-2,605
Referees-David Lilly.
Linesmen-Ben Gawlik, Jake Paugh.
