The Waterloo Black Hawks earned their first victory of 2023/24 by defeating the Dubuque Fighting Saints 5-4 on the road in a shootout Friday.
A season ago, the Hawks were 4-0 in shootouts and 12-1 in all games that included overtime. Friday's shootout was the first in the United States Hockey League during the new campaign.
Gavyn Thoreson and John Mustard converted Waterloo's first two shootout attempts, ultimately sending the Hawks to a 2-1 decision in the tie-breaker. Thoreson snapped in a chance to the stick side from the right circle, and Mustard slipped in a low attempt between goaltender Kevin Reidler's skates.
Gavin Cornforth capitalized on Dubuque's second shootout try, scoring off of Jack Spicer's glove, but Spicer slammed the door on James Reeder in the third round. Spicer scored the win with 19 official saves. Reidler was credited with 34 saves in the overtime loss.
Dubuque had scored first, but that lead only lasted 15 seconds. Jayden Jubenvill was the trailer on a rush into the Black Hawks zone. He caught a drop pass near the top of the left circle, firing his shot through traffic at 12:04.
On the next shift, Waterloo was determined to answer, and Connor Brown did. The third-year veteran was set up in the slot for a backhander by Griffin Erdman.
The Hawks went ahead for the first time this season during a power play with 47.6 seconds left before intermission. The Saints had not been able to capitalize on a shorthanded opportunity moments earlier, and Matthew Frost sent home his chance in transition as the Hawks came back down the ice.
In the second, the Saints reeled off three consecutive goals to pull ahead; the first two came on the power play. Erik Pahlsson set up Cornforth at the 50-second mark. The roles were reversed when the Saints were back on the advantage at 11:23. Cornforth struck again to make it 4-2 while the teams skated five-on-five at 17:07, putting an attempt from the left dot inside the short side post.
Adam Zlnka drew a goal back 53.8 seconds before intermission. Gavin Lindberg's wraparound try made it across the top of the crease to Zlnka waiting to pounce at the opposite edge of the blue paint.
Zlnka also produced the equalizer at 7:02 of the third. Camped out at the edge of the crease, he deflected Lindberg's shot up and over a flummoxed Reidler.
Waterloo had a power play at the end of the third and into overtime, but could not break the deadlock. The Hawks were credited with five shots in the extra period against Dubuque's three.
The Hawks are now halfway through a series of six games away from Young Arena to start the season. Waterloo's bus rolls to Sioux City and Sioux Falls next weekend.
Waterloo 2 1 1 0 - 5
Dubuque 1 3 0 0 - 4
1st Period-1, Dubuque, Jubenvill 2 (Cornforth, Pahlsson), 12:04. 2, Waterloo, Brown 1 (Erdman, Reed), 12:19. 3, Waterloo, Frost 1 (Brown), 19:12 (PP). Penalties-Sondreal Dbq (slashing), 5:14; Thoreson Wat (roughing), 17:27; Reeder Dbq (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:27; St. Louis Dbq (roughing), 17:27; Nevers Wat (head contact), 19:50.
2nd Period-4, Dubuque, Cornforth 2 (Pahlsson, Powell), 0:50 (PP). 5, Dubuque, Pahlsson 2 (Cornforth), 11:23 (PP). 6, Dubuque, Cornforth 3 17:07. 7, Waterloo, Zlnka 2 (Lindberg), 19:06. Penalties-Zlnka Wat (tripping), 9:31.
3rd Period-8, Waterloo, Zlnka 3 (Lindberg), 7:02. Penalties-Zlnka Wat (holding), 1:40; Sondreal Dbq (slashing), 3:22; Naeve Wat (hooking), 10:05; LaPinta Dbq (tripping), 18:58.
1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout - Waterloo 2 (Thoreson G, Mustard G, Cronin NG), Dubuque 1 (LaPinta NG, Cornforth G, Reeder NG).
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 14-10-9-5-1-39. Dubuque 3-11-6-3-0-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 1 / 4; Dubuque 2 / 4.
Goalies-Waterloo, Spicer 1-2-0-0 (23 shots-19 saves). Dubuque, Reidler 0-0-1-1 (38 shots-34 saves).
A-2,680
Referees-Ryan Siegel.
Linesmen-Odin Nelson, Jacob Rozenberg.
