The Waterloo Black Hawks had a big first period and pulled away from the Omaha Lancers for a 7-1 win at Young Arena on a pivotal late-season Friday night.
The victory tightened up the race for second place in the USHL Western Conference. Elsewhere, the Sioux City Musketeers absorbed a 6-3 loss against the Lincoln Stars. As a result, Waterloo moved to within one point of Sioux City with three games remaining during the regular season.
Waterloo's four-goal first period matched the biggest opening 20 minutes of the season. The first three goals were separated by just over three minutes, starting at 5:48. Reid Morich received a transition pass near the inside edge of the left circle and let go of a quick shot that beat Mikhail Yegorov. The Hawks' next goal came from the other hashmark 65 seconds later. Myles Hilman's pass made it across the slot to Gavin Lindberg, who zinged in a wrister.
John Mustard chased Yegorov to the bench at 8:54. Mustard's team-leading 27th goal was banged in from close range on a rebound try.
The Hawks made it 4-0 with a late period power play conversion as Griffin Erdman hit the net from the inside edge of the right circle.
Gavyn Thoreson recorded the only goal of the second period just 17 seconds out of intermission. Lindberg fed a pass from behind the net into the deep slot, and Dylan Compton triggered a shot. Thoreson was at the top of the crease for a redirection past reserve netminder Kam Hendrickson right pad.
The Lancers ended Calvin Vachon's shutout bid at 3:38 of the third period. David Posma put back the rebound of Gabe Kenne's shot from the right point. Vachon stopped the rest of Omaha's attempts for a 14-save victory.
The Hawks capped the scoring with two late goals. Mustard had the first on a rush out of his own zone, turning across the width of the ice near the Lancer blue line, then advancing to rifle in a wrist shot from the left circle at 13:36.
Teddy Townsend banged in a final goal at 15:07. Lindberg found him on the doorstep with a pass from behind the Lancer net.
The weekend continues on Saturday as the Hawks host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 6:05 p.m. The team's UNI-themed Cedar Valley Heritage jerseys will be auctioned after the game to benefit Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity. Tickets for UNI Panther Pride Night are available from the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office or online at tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.
Omaha 0 0 1 - 1
Waterloo 4 1 2 - 7
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Morich 6 (Mustard, Deering), 5:48. 2, Waterloo, Lindberg 18 (Hilman, Felicio), 6:53. 3, Waterloo, Mustard 27 (Morich, Deering), 8:54. 4, Waterloo, Erdman 20 (Mustard, Felicio), 18:52 (PP). Penalties-Veney Oma (high sticking dbl minor), 15:11; Pierre Oma (high sticking), 16:43.
2nd Period-5, Waterloo, Thoreson 20 (Compton, Lindberg), 0:17. Penalties-Posma Oma (cross checking), 0:17; Mustard Wat (hooking), 4:27.
3rd Period-6, Omaha, Posma 1 (Kenne, Kusler), 3:38. 7, Waterloo, Mustard 28 (Phelan), 13:26. 8, Waterloo, Townsend 13 (Lindberg, Thoreson), 15:07. Penalties-Katin Oma (roughing), 5:15; Deering Wat (roughing), 5:15; Thoreson Wat (hooking), 10:10.
Shots on Goal-Omaha 7-2-6-15. Waterloo 17-14-15-46.
Power Play Opportunities-Omaha 0 / 2; Waterloo 1 / 3.
Goalies-Omaha, Yegorov 7-25-3-0 (7 shots-4 saves); Hendrickson 2-1-0-0 (39 shots-35 saves). Waterloo, Vachon 21-11-0-0 (15 shots-14 saves).
A-2,609
