Black Hawks Come Up Short In Overtime Loss; Earn Standings Point

The Black Hawks battled hard to overcome "Fear" Saturday night in "Party Town", as Green Bay Gamblers goaltender Evan Fear turned away 37 shots on goal. Combined with two late goals by defensemen, hoisted the Green Bay Gamblers past the Waterloo Black Hawks, 5-4 in overtime.

Noah Ganske gave Green Bay their first lead of the night at 15:09 of the third period, sending a long shot flying under the crossbar from near the blue line.  Waterloo battled back even, but in the final minute of extra time, Chris Giroday struck for the decisive score, getting free for a breakaway goal that ended the contest.

The Hawks were able to extend their season-opening sequence to five consecutive games with a standings point, thanks to Connor Caponi.  Shorthanded with just over three minutes left, Mason Palmer hit Caponi coming on a change, and the first-year forward used a backpedaling defenseman as a screen to beat Evan Fear between the pads.

The teams had exchanged rapid first period goals before the Hawks took the lead to intermission.  At 6:41, Emil Ohrvall found a loose puck near his blue line and sped up the ice – fending off a check – to slip a backhander past the left skate of Fear.  The lead lasted just 59 seconds before Jesse Tucker cashed in on a rebound to tie it.

A power play goal was the difference when the game went to intermission.  With 28.8 seconds left before the break, Griffin Ness spiked in a pass which came his way across the top of the crease, originating off the stick of Austen Swankler.

Green Bay tied it again with the lone second period goal.  Rory Herrman came zooming up the ice on left wing to join an odd-man rush and slide a low shot past Jared Moe.

In the early minutes of the third, Vladislav Firstov sent a laser beam past the right leg of Fear during a four-on-three power play to give the Hawks their final lead.  The 3-2 count lasted less than four minutes before Herrman’s second goal leveled the score again, one second after a Green Bay power play had ended.

The Black Hawks remain on home ice Thursday, hosting the Youngstown Phantoms.  It’s “Forever Young” Night; all kids 12 and under will receive a complimentary ticket.  In addition, the first 1,000 fans will take home a 2018/19 schedule poster, presented by Karen’s Print Rite.  For tickets, call the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.