The Waterloo Black Hawks could not stop the Madison Capitols' power play on Saturday, falling 6-2 at Bob Suter's Legacy 20 Arena.
The Capitols scored on three of five power plays, along with a goal which came shortly after another power play had ended. The special teams-heavy outcome was Waterloo's first regulation loss of the season after a 7-0-2 start.
Madison opened the scoring 5:15 into the game, forcing a turnover along the right boards, and ultimately setting up Caleb Pittsley with an open side to flip in a backhander. Then at 13:06, Nolen Geerdes capitalized on the only power play of the period. His shot from the left point found its way through traffic and inside the opposite post.
The Capitols continued to use the power play to good effect in the second period. Moments after a power play ended but before Waterloo had all five skaters back in the play, Geerdes bagged his second of the night at 3:58, slipping in a low chance after speeding into the offensive zone.
Gustavs Griva added another score the next time the Capitols were on the advantage, redirecting a pass that came his way across the top of the crease at 13:25.
Keegan Davis broke the momentum temporarily at the 17-minute mark. Jordan Geike set him up from behind the net, and Cash Cruitt couldn't slam the door on the chance.
However, the Capitols had one more power play in the period and scored again with 37.9 seconds to go before intermission. Pittsley lifted in his second of the night from a sharp angle to the right of Sebastian Charvat.
The Hawks put 20 shots on goal in the third period, but could only draw one goal back. Dylan Nolan got it on a redirection during a Hawks power play at 12:39.
Waterloo put a sixth attacker on the ice with just over five-and-a-half minutes to go. That led to chances, but ultimately, Will Dosan put Madison back up by four, finding the empty net from the neutral zone at 17:11.
The Hawks return to home ice next weekend with Halloween-themed activities Friday and Saturday. The weekend starts with Dia de Los Muertos Night against the Sioux City Musketeers. Then Saturday's 3:05 p.m. game against the Dubuque Fighting Saints features trick-or-treating on the concourse, plus a kids Halloween costume contest and parade. For tickets, call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680 or visit tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com.
Waterloo 0 1 1 - 2
Madison 2 3 1 - 6
1st Period-1, Madison, Pittsley 3 (Rider, Griva), 5:15. 2, Madison, Geerdes 2 (Frey, MacSwain), 13:06 (PP). Penalties-O'Donohue Wat (slashing), 12:44.
2nd Period-3, Madison, Geerdes 3 (Frey, Cruitt), 3:58. 4, Madison, Griva 2 (Pittsley, Geerdes), 13:25 (PP). 5, Waterloo, Davis 1 (Geike), 17:00. 6, Madison, Pittsley 4 (Griva, Geerdes), 19:22 (PP). Penalties-Kultgen Wat (high sticking), 1:55; Treharne Mad (hooking), 9:08; Bloink Wat (holding), 11:31; Viviano Wat (delay of game-faceoff violation), 18:17.
3rd Period-7, Waterloo, Nolan 7 (Jinman, Deanovich), 12:39 (PP). 8, Madison, Dosan 1 (MacSwain), 17:11 (EN). Penalties-Jinman Wat (high sticking), 4:17; Treharne Mad (hooking), 6:47; Geerdes Mad (cross checking), 11:25.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 9-13-20-42. Madison 14-15-7-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 1 / 3; Madison 3 / 5.
Goalies-Waterloo, Charvat 4-1-0-0 (35 shots-30 saves). Madison, Cruitt 1-2-1-0 (42 shots-40 saves).
A-1,261
