The Dubuque Fighting Saints scored a late third period goal, but Waterloo defenseman Caleb Deanovich produced the winner in overtime, for the Black Hawks' 3-2 Halloween night result at Young Arena.
The visitors seemingly had control of the initial faceoff in overtime, but when a Fighting Saint fell down, Deanovich took control in his own zone, then navigated up ice to make a handoff to Cody Sokol. In the offensive zone, Sokol dashed to the net but lost control near the top of the crease. However, the puck went right to Deanovich, who kicked it to his stick and flipped it into an open side at the 24-second mark.
The win boosts the Hawks to 5-0-0 at Young Arena this season. Waterloo closes out their most successful October in a decade; the Hawks were 6-1-1 during the month.
Deanovich's dramatic moment was necessary, because the Fighting Saints had tied the game with 29.6 seconds left in regulation. Skating with a sixth attacker and on a power play, Olle Darth triggered a chance that went in from above the right circle. The puck crossed the line a split second after the penalty had ended.
Waterloo never trailed Saturday. The Black Hawks' power play had produced the only goal during the first period at 17:42. Justin Bloink's long bid was knocked down by Josh Banini. Cody Sokol had the first whack at the rebound, and then Hayden Russell came to the edge of the crease to finish the chance against his former team.
Dubuque answered with the lone second period goal during a delayed penalty situation. Melvin Ekman hit the post with a transition chance, but Joseph Covelluzzi found the rebound and slipped in a follow-up bid at 11:48.
Early in the third period, a Hawks goal was disallowed, because a shot from the left point had been redirected by a high stick. However, Waterloo did retake the lead at 3:37. Jordan Geike found Dylan Nolan speeding up left wing, and he sent a laser under the crossbar for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
Saturday's win builds on a 5-1 victory Friday over the Sioux City Musketeers. It's also Waterloo's second consecutive overtime win on Halloween; exactly a year earlier, the Hawks edged the Green Bay Gamblers 4-3 in Wisconsin.
The Black Hawks finish their three-game weekend – and start the month of November – on the road Sunday with a rematch in Dubuque at 5:05 p.m.
Dubuque 0 1 1 0 - 2
Waterloo 1 0 1 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Waterloo, Russell 6 (Sokol, Geike), 17:42 (PP). Penalties-Krizizke Dbq (tripping), 9:54; Darth Dbq (holding), 16:09.
2nd Period-2, Dubuque, Covelluzzi 5 (Ekman, Martin), 11:48. Penalties-Lind Dbq (checking from behind, misconduct-checking from behind), 7:37; Miller Wat (slashing), 11:36; Martin Dbq (instigator, game misconduct - instigator, major-fighting), 16:17; Langfeld Wat (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 16:17; Sokol Wat (charging), 16:17; Banini Dbq (delay of game), 18:55.
3rd Period-3, Waterloo, Nolan 9 (Geike, Bloink), 3:37. 4, Dubuque, Darth 7 (Brierley, Lind), 19:30 (PP). Penalties-Covelluzzi Dbq (major-kneeing, game misconduct-kneeing), 13:03; Russell Wat (hooking), 17:30.
1st OT Period-5, Waterloo, Deanovich 2 (Sokol), 0:26. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Dubuque 9-6-5-0-20. Waterloo 13-13-8-1-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Dubuque 1 / 1; Waterloo 1 / 5.
Goalies-Dubuque, Banini 0-0-1-0 (35 shots-32 saves). Waterloo, Charvat 5-1-0-0 (20 shots-18 saves).
A-1,670
