Hayden Russell had a goal and three assists Friday to propel the Waterloo Black Hawks past the Des Moines Buccaneers 5-3 in an exhibition contest at Young Arena.
The win moved Waterloo to 2-2-0 during the USHL preseason and followed up a 5-4 overtime victory versus the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Wednesday.
An opening period power play Friday brought a surge of chances for the Black Hawks offense, but the Buccaneers produced the opening goal. Waterloo sent seven shots on frame during - and moments after - the advantage. However, a couple of shifts later, Henry Major hit the top corner from the left circle, nudging the visitors in front.
The Hawks struck for two goals within a two-minute span to swing to the lead shortly after the midpoint of the period. Cody Sokol buried the equalizer at 9:33; Russell found him with a pass out of the right corner. Then at 11:19, Waterloo made the most of a turnover just outside the Buccaneer blue line. Miles Jinman carried the puck in before dishing a feed to Jordan Geike. The veteran junior forward turned the opportunity toward the net with one touch.
All the scoring in the second came during power play opportunities. Late during Waterloo's second power play of the night, Russell clicked with David Sedlacek, and the Czech forward rifled a shot inside the post from close range at 12:16.
The Buccaneers responded in kind at 16:21. Becker Wenkus capitalized from near the top of the right circle on a one-timer teed up by Mason Jenson. Yet, Waterloo was up by two again before intermission thanks to Russell's buzzer-beater. The puck was deep in the Hawks' zone with under 10 seconds remaining in the period, but Waterloo hurried it up ice, and Russell sped up the slot to score on a wrister with three-tenths of a second to go before the horn.
The two sides exchanged goals one more time in the third. Des Moines cut into the lead at 9:30 when Eli Bimmerle struck on a setup by Bradley Whang. Nonetheless Waterloo was ahead by two for good after the 13-minute mark, thanks to Liam Schultz. He was the beneficiary of a passing sequence in the neutral zone between Russell and Sokol. Schultz was on the weak side but well positioned to take Russell's pass and flip in his chance.
Now the Hawks and Bucs prepare to wrap up the preseason on Saturday during a game in West Des Moines. The teams open the regular season next week during the USHL Fall Classic in Chicago.
Des Moines 1 1 1 - 3
Waterloo 2 2 1 - 5
1st Period-1, Des Moines, Major 1 (Pinko, Cottingham), 8:08. 2, Waterloo, Sokol 1 (Russell, Leuthold), 9:33. 3, Waterloo, Geike 2 (Jinman), 11:19. Penalties-Dubravik Dsm (checking from behind), 4:25.
2nd Period-4, Waterloo, Sedlacek 1 (Russell, Jinman), 12:16 (PP). 5, Des Moines, Wenkus 1 (Jenson, Major), 16:21 (PP). 6, Waterloo, Russell 2 (Hunka, Sokol), 19:59 (PP). Penalties-Hontvet Dsm (roughing), 1:54; Russell Wat (roughing), 1:54; Russell Wat (slashing), 6:33; Hontvet Dsm (holding), 10:34; Nsonsa Kitala Wat (high sticking), 15:57; Toninato Dsm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:06; served by Major Dsm (bench - coach), 20:00.
3rd Period-7, Des Moines, Bimmerle 1 (Whang, Capecci), 9:30. 8, Waterloo, Schultz 3 (Russell, Sokol), 13:00. Penalties-Jenson Dsm (slashing), 14:44; Major Dsm (interference), 17:34.
Shots on Goal-Des Moines 10-12-5-27. Waterloo 16-7-11-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Des Moines 1 / 2; Waterloo 2 / 6.
Goalies-Des Moines, Saffran 0-1-0-0 (34 shots-29 saves). Waterloo, Gabriel 1-0-0-0 (27 shots-24 saves).
