The Fargo Force scored the only goals in Friday's third period, and that made the difference, lifting the visitors to a 5-3 win against the Waterloo Black Hawks at Young Arena.
The Hawks' loss halted a four-game home winning streak. Meanwhile, Fargo became the first United States Hockey League club with 30 victories in 2023/24.
For more than 16 minutes out of the second intermission, the teams were level at 3-3. Mac Swanson scored the go-ahead goal with 3:45 left in regulation, receiving the puck behind the Waterloo net and wrapping it around the post at goaltender Calvin Vachon's left. The Hawks brought Vachon to the bench in favor of a sixth attacker with just over two minutes remaining, but a centering feed that was knocked down between the circles in the Fargo zone allowed Merril Steenari to score into the open goal at 18:19.
Early in the game, the Black Hawks had capitalized on prime first period opportunities. The first came at 3:24 when the Force turned a puck over at their blue line. That provided Griffin Erdman the chance to skate in alone on Hampton Slukynsky, and the veteran forward feathered a low shot between the netminder's pads.
Waterloo struck for a second goal at 10:30 during a two-man advantage. Gavyn Thoreson dropped a pass from the bottom to the top of the right circle, and Will Felicio rifled a shot past Slukynsky to the short side.
Fargo erased the Hawks' lead with two goals in just over five minutes in the second. Harper Bentz banged in the first one from close range after Tate Taylor's effort to win the puck behind the net at 3:14. Leo Gruba scored the equalizer in transition on a feed from Steenari at 8:37.
The Hawks retook the lead briefly, with a Jakub Altrichter tally at 14:03. Slukynsky stopped a two-on-none breakaway chance by Eero Butella, but the goalie's momentum pulled him out of the crease, and he left a rebound. Altrichter got there to tap it in.
Fargo tied the game again at 17:11 moments after a four-on-four shift turned into a Force power play. A Hawks turnover led to Zam Plante's initial chance and Michael Quinn's rebound goal.
Waterloo's best opportunity to again seize control of the game came before the middle of the third period. Overlapping penalties against the Force gave the Hawks their second five-on-three power play of the night, but Waterloo did not convert the 1:49-long two-man advantage. In defeat, the Hawks were one-for-five on the power play.
Waterloo and Fargo won't wait long for a rematch. They meet again Saturday at 6:05 p.m. A Weekend with the Black Hawks, presented by John Deere will wrap up with a postgame jersey auction to benefit the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. For seats, visit
tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com or call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.
Fargo 0 3 2 - 5
Waterloo 2 1 0 - 3
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Erdman 11 (Morich), 3:24. 2, Waterloo, Felicio 6 (Thoreson, Miller), 10:30 (PP). Penalties-Gruba Fgo (holding), 8:45; Daavettila Fgo (tripping), 9:12; Morich Wat (interference), 19:47.
2nd Period-3, Fargo, Bentz 14 (Taylor, Fisher), 3:41. 4, Fargo, Gruba 15 (Steenari, Boser), 8:37. 5, Waterloo, Altrichter 8 (Butella, Battaini), 14:03. 6, Fargo, Quinn 2 (Plante), 17:11 (PP). Penalties-Morich Wat (tripping), 10:03; Boser Fgo (roughing), 14:58; Erdman Wat (interference), 16:30; Lindberg Wat (interference), 18:35.
3rd Period-7, Fargo, Swanson 13 (Plante, Boser), 16:15. 8, Fargo, Steenari 5 (Slukynsky), 18:19 (EN). Penalties-Gruba Fgo (major-fighting, game misconduct-aggressor), 6:01; Quinn Fgo (roughing), 6:01; Miller Wat (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 6:01; Leppa Fgo (holding), 6:12.
Shots on Goal-Fargo 5-17-9-31. Waterloo 10-6-8-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Fargo 1 / 4; Waterloo 1 / 5.
Goalies-Fargo, Slukynsky 16-1-0-0 (24 shots-21 saves). Waterloo, Vachon 14-6-0-0 (30 shots-26 saves).
A-2,656
