USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview

November 13, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Intriguing Matchups

The Black Hawks are on home ice Friday and Saturday (both 7:05 p.m.) to meet the Tri-City Storm and Lincoln Stars, each for the first time in 2018/19. In addition to four annual regular season meetings, Waterloo has faced both opponents in the playoffs recently: the Storm in 2016 and the Stars in both 2016 and 2018. The high-scoring Hawks are tied for second in the USHL this year with just over four goals per contest; Friday, that offense will have to solve the league's best goaltender, Isaiah Saville, who sports a 1.59 goals against average. Saville is the only league goalie under 2.00. In similar circumstances Saturday, the top-ranked Waterloo power play (34.5 percent) faces Lincoln's USHL-best penalty kill (87.3 percent). The Stars have been particularly sharp with their penalty kill on the road, denying 18 of 19 opposing power plays.

Plus Palmer

Mason Palmer has delivered a positive plus/minus differential in five of the last six games; in the other, he was even. Finishing +8 over that sequence, his plus/minus for the year is now +10, which ties for sixth in the league this season. Palmer has eight points - all assists - which ties him as the team's scoring leader among defenseman. His eighth assist came in overtime Saturday during Waterloo's 3-2 victory versus Green Bay.

Five for Six

Another Black Hawk who has been steadily producing throughout his last half dozen appearances is Ryan Drkulec. The forward from Texas has at least one point in five of the last six Waterloo games: three goals and three assists in that time. Over the weekend, Drkulec scored a goal in Chicago then another in Green Bay. The latter was the first game-winning goal of his USHL career.

Moe and the Milestone

Jared Moe made 26 saves Saturday to give the Hawks their second win of the weekend. For Moe, it was the 28th regular season victory of his career. Before the end of this month, he could join a limited fraternity of Waterloo netminders with 30 regular season wins during the junior era. It is something only eight goalies have accomplished. Moe is currently tied with Paul Spencer and Kevin Regan for ninth in goaltending victories.

Weekly Recap

Three goals on odd-man rushes helped lift the Hawks to a 4-2 Friday win against the Chicago Steel. Vladislav Firstov scored the eventual game-winner during the second period. Saturday, Waterloo trailed going to the third period before a tying goal from Emil Ohrvall. That forced Waterloo's league-high seventh overtime game, and Ryan Drkulec provided the win as the teams skated three-on-three. The Black Hawks are now 6-1-2 on the road, tying for the USHL lead with 14 points in away contests.

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2018


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