Dylan Nolan's second goal of the game started a celebration at Young Arena, and the Waterloo Blach Hawks skated away with the resulting 3-2 overtime victory against the Madison Capitols Saturday.
After Madison had initial possession during the extra frame, Waterloo worked the puck the other direction, and Cody Sokol turned out of traffic in the right wing corner. He sent a pass back to Justin Bloink, and the defenseman delivered it promptly to Nolan between the circles. The veteran put his low shot between Cash Cruitt's pads for the winner.
The Hawks are now 1-1 in overtime games this season. In 2025/26, Waterloo went 1-4 in overtimes and shootouts while playing beyond regulation a league-low five times. The Hawks hadn't won a regular season overtime game at Young Arena since a 3-2 shootout performance against the Sioux City Musketeers on April 11, 2025.
Waterloo's third power play of the opening period had provided the night's initial breakthrough 1:09 before intermission. The Hawks were into the final seconds of the advantage when Miles Jinman and Trevor O'Donohue worked the puck into the offensive zone. That left space in the slot for Nolan to set up, and when the puck came his way, he put in the just below the crossbar.
Colin Dustin scored two power play goals in the second period, but only one of them counted. At 4:20, he lifted in a loose puck from the edge of the crease. Although he wasn't the intended recipient, Dustin was in the right spot. That was the case again at 9:23 when he banged in a rebound, but the goal was disallowed after a review, which determined there was a unwhistled offside 22 seconds earlier.
The Capitols knotted the game up as the period continued. Harper Frey scored twice within a minute, with his first at 12:54. The transition goal came as he stepped left around a defender and shot back to his right. Then at 13:42, he used traffic at the front of the net to send home a shot from the deep slot.
There was no scoring for the remainder of the period, and the Hawks were limited to three shots in the third. Madison had the game's final three power plays but finished 0-for-4.
Sebastian Charvat improved to 3-0-0 with a 22 save night in net.
The Hawks now play a home-and-home weekend series against the Des Moines Buccaneers, starting next Friday in West Des Moines. Tickets for Saturday's home matchup are available by calling the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or online from tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.
Madison 0 2 0 0 - 2
Waterloo 1 1 0 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Nolan 4 (Jinman, O'Donohue), 18:51 (PP). Penalties-Geerdes Mad (high sticking), 1:57; Rider Mad (bench minor-too many men), 5:25; Sedlacek Wat (slashing), 13:54; Schmidt Mad (tripping), 17:04.
2nd Period-2, Waterloo, Dustin 3 (Sokol, Russell), 4:20 (PP). 3, Madison, Frey 3 (Dosan, MacSwain), 12:54. 4, Madison, Frey 4 (Yandle), 13:42. Penalties-Pittsley Mad (slashing), 3:44; Schmidt Mad (tripping), 7:59; Jinman Wat (bench minor-too many men), 19:33.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Deanovich Wat (cross checking), 5:24; Malinek Wat (tripping), 16:30.
1st OT Period-5, Waterloo, Nolan 5 (Bloink, Sokol), 1:02. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Madison 8-8-8-0-24. Waterloo 13-7-3-2-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Madison 0 / 4; Waterloo 2 / 5.
Goalies-Madison, Cruitt 0-2-1-0 (25 shots-22 saves). Waterloo, Charvat 3-0-0-0 (24 shots-22 saves).
A-1,970
