Black Hawks Have Happy Halloween in Lincoln

Brock Boeser recorded a hat trick for the Waterloo Black Hawks, and seven missed power play opportunities came back to haunt the Lincoln Stars Friday at the Ice Box in Lincoln, where Waterloo prevailed 6-4.

Tyler Sheehy scored in the first minute of action, putting the Hawks ahead with a wrist shot from the left circle. The goal came just 36 seconds after the opening faceoff. However, moments after a subsequent Waterloo power play ended, Grant Jozefek snapped a puck into the net while speeding into the Hawks’ zone.

Tyson McLellan provided the go-ahead goal which sent the visitors to the intermission with the lead, scoring into an open goal at 9:22, thanks to a takeaway by Max Coatta from goaltender Cam Hackett behind the Lincoln cage.

The Black Hawks finished a wild second period with a slightly larger lead, chasing Hackett to the bench before the period was four minutes old. Waterloo got started with a tap-in by Brandon Montour at 2:06, set-up by Phil Beaulieu. Ninety seconds later, Boeser scored from close range after Tom Novak forced a turnover.

Hackett went to the sidelines to be replaced by Peyton Jones, but Boeser scored again during a five-on-three power play at 7:22.

Undaunted, Lincoln rallied, beginning with a shorthanded, unassisted goal by Dominick Sacco, zipping into the Waterloo zone to score at 8:56. Another unassisted goal brought the Stars back within two before intermission; a failed clearing attempt and a screen near the front of the net setup Ludvig Hoff at 16:56.

Boeser completed his hat trick while the Hawks were shorthanded in the third, rushing up the slot at 4:14 for a breakaway wrist shot past Jones’ stick side. Eighty-eight seconds later, Lincoln completed the evening’s offense when Michael Gillespie lifted a shot under the crossbar from the right circle.

The final contest during the Hawks’ four-game stretch away from home will be in Chicago on Thursday. Waterloo will face the Steel at Seven Bridges Ice Arena, beginning at 6:30. The following evening, the Black Hawks will be back in Party Town to meet the Madison Capitols at 7:05. Tickets are on sale from waterlooblackhawks.com or by calling the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.