Three Waterloo Black Hawks veterans scored in the first 40 minutes Friday during a 4-1 road win against the Des Moines Buccaneers.
Griffin Erdman, Gavin Lindberg, and Gavyn Thoreson produced the key goals that helped the Hawks pick up the wire-to-wire win. Coupled with a Sioux City Musketeers loss, the victory at Buccaneer Arena moved the Hawks within three points of second place in the United States Hockey League Western Conference.
Waterloo took their initial lead at 2:53 of the first period. Dylan Compton shot from the left point, and the chance was tipped by Erdman. Des Moines' Ethan Dahlmeir made the save, but the rebound popped away, and Erdman was right there to bat it by with a backhander.
The Hawks made it 2-0 just 14 seconds into a mid-period power play. At 12:32, Lindberg tipped John Mustard's low shot which had originated from the right faceoff dot.
Thoreson added the only goal of the second period. Mustard zipped to the left circle for an initial chance in transition, with Thoreson there to push in the rebound at 5:22.
A succession of penalties gave Des Moines three power plays early in the third period. Calvin Vachon made his best save of the night on Davis Borozinskis about five minutes into the frame. Vachon pushed to his left and flared his glove to intercept the opportunity. However, the Hawks netminder was shaken up on the next shift. Although he tried to stay in the game, Aiden VanRooyan scored in transition at 6:13. The goal on a low wrister came as the teams skated four-on-four.
Jack Spicer entered the matchup in relief and stopped the three shots he faced. Vachon was credited with the win and 16 saves.
Dahlmeir came to the Buccaneer bench for a sixth attacker with just under three minutes to go, but Waterloo scored shortly after that. Des Moines mishandled a puck in the Waterloo zone, creating a two-on-one. Lindberg connected with Myles Hilman, and the Black Hawk captain put the puck into an open cage at 17:55.
The Black Hawks move on to meet the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for a Saturday road game. Then Sunday, Waterloo is home against the Youngstown Phantoms. Fans can skate with the team after that 3:05 p.m. game, and the first 250 kids in attendance will receive a free cowbell, presented by Chick-fil-A. For tickets, call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.
Waterloo 2 1 1 - 4
Des Moines 0 0 1 - 1
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Erdman 13 (Brown, Compton), 2:58. 2, Waterloo, Lindberg 14 (Mustard, Miller), 12:32 (PP). Penalties-Rourke Dm (slashing), 12:17; Morich Wat (cross checking), 15:07.
2nd Period-3, Waterloo, Thoreson 11 (Mustard), 5:22. Penalties-No Penalties
3rd Period-4, Des Moines, VanRooyan 1 (Engle), 6:13. 5, Waterloo, Hilman 19 (Lindberg, Altrichter), 17:55 (EN). Penalties-Erdman Wat (roughing), 0:16; Lindberg Wat (tripping), 4:38; Kevan Dm (tripping), 5:54; Erdman Wat (tripping), 6:47; Rourke Dm (roughing), 19:07; Altrichter Wat (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 9-8-4-21. Des Moines 5-6-9-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 1 / 3; Des Moines 0 / 4.
Goalies-Waterloo, Vachon 18-6-0-0 (17 shots-16 saves); Spicer 8-7-0-1 (3 shots-3 saves). Des Moines, Dahlmeir 11-17-0-0 (20 shots-17 saves).
A-1,656
