The Waterloo Black Hawks tied Saturday's game three times before the Green Bay Gamblers pulled away for a 5-3 decision at Cornerstone Community Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.
Green Bay's Nick Knutson recorded a hat trick, including a pair of shorthanded goals. The game featured five power play or shorthanded scores.
All of the goals in the opening period came at even strength, starting with Green Bay's opening tally by Owen Fask 2:30 after the opening faceoff. Jordan Geike answered for the Hawks almost exactly 10 minutes later, but the Gamblers carried the lead to intermission on Knutson's first of the afternoon at 14:43.
The first power play goal of the affair came during the first minute of the second period when Noa Nsonsa Kitala found the net. Oliver McKinney swung Green Bay back ahead just 13 seconds into the Gamblers' next power play at 4:55, but Liam Schultz had the answer for Waterloo during an advantage at 11:55.
Late in the period, the Hawks had a chance to go ahead on another power play, but instead, Knutson pushed Green Bay ahead with a shorthanded score. He completed his hat trick – also shorthanded – into an empty net with the only goal of the third as 1:49 remained in regulation.
The Hawks are on home ice for their next exhibition game at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
Waterloo 1 2 0 - 3
Green Bay 2 2 1 - 5
1st Period-1, Green Bay, Fask 1 (Kutsevich, Knight), 2:30. 2, Waterloo, Geike 1 (Russell), 12:34. 3, Green Bay, Knutson 2 (Sinclair), 14:43. Penalties-McKinney Gb (holding), 19:13.
2nd Period-4, Waterloo, Nsonsa Kitala 1 (O'Donohue, Jinman), 0:36 (PP). 5, Green Bay, McKinney 1 (Gault, Knutson), 4:55 (PP). 6, Waterloo, Schultz 1 (Hunka, Geike), 11:55 (PP). 7, Green Bay, Knutson 3 16:58 (SH). Penalties-Davis Wat (elbowing), 4:42; Langfeld Wat (roughing), 5:55; Kutsevich Gb (roughing), 5:55; Russell Wat (cross checking), 8:21; Fedotov Gb (hooking), 10:33; Russell Wat (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 11:59; Verot Gb (10-minute misconduct, major-fighting), 11:59; Langfeld Wat (holding), 13:33; Knutson Gb (interference), 13:59; Bourne Gb (holding), 16:07.
3rd Period-8, Green Bay, Knutson 4 18:11 (SH EN). Penalties-Jankular Wat (tripping), 1:55; Knutson Gb (misconduct-equipment violation), 4:23; Peckham Wat (holding), 6:26; Geike Wat (hooking), 12:44; Pajor Gb (diving/embellishment), 12:44; Toms Gb (interference), 14:45; Martin Gb (holding), 17:22.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 9-15-8-32. Green Bay 12-8-8-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 2 / 6; Green Bay 1 / 5.
Goalies-Waterloo, Charvat 0-0-0-0 (18 shots-15 saves); Shea 0-2-0-0 (9 shots-8 saves). Green Bay, Novotny 1-0-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves).
A-198
