Waterloo, IA – The Fargo Force fell in overtime to the Waterloo Black Hawks 2-1 in a goaltender's duel of a game. Garrett Schifsky won it for the Black Hawks with just five seconds remaining in overtime. The Force gain a point in the loss however, moving to 38-13-3-4 and 83 points. The solo point tied the franchise points record set in in the 2012-13 season. Matej Marinov stopped 31 of 33 shots on net in an incredible performance. For the opposition, Waterloo jumps to 37-20-1-0 and 75 points. The Black Hawk's netminder, Emmett Croteau, brushed off 32 of 33 shots on goal, giving Waterloo the victory.
The Force and Black Hawks traded opportunities early in the first period, with Marinov robbing Waterloo's Griffin Erdman on a drop pass from Owen Baker. Fargo responded with consistent zone pressure, and compounded it with an excellent cycle on a power play at 8:11. The Black Hawks used a man advantage of their own at 12:00 to gain momentum. The momentum paid off at 15:31 when Erdman scored on a long drive through a screen, giving Waterloo a 1-0 lead. Chippy play remained constant, as each team took three penalties each in the first and there were a number of net front scrums after whistles.
Fargo couldn't convert on 1:13 in carryover power play time to start the second period, and Waterloo responded with chances in transition, that were all turned aside by Marinov. While the Force were serving a too many men on the ice penalty, Anthony Menghini had a breakaway. While streaking in, he was tripped up and awarded a penalty shot at 7:33. Menghini faked a wrist shot until the last moment before attempting to use his backhand but was walled off by Croteau. Had Menghini scored, he would have broken the franchise record for shorthanded goals in a season with seven. The current record was set by Andy Taranto in the 2008-09 season. Marinov played excellent in net as the Force were outshot 14-7 by the Black Hawks in the second. As the period wound down, JP Turner dropped the mitts with Owen Baker at 17:16. Further physicality occurred at 18:41, when Cole Knuble drove to the net after a two on one chance. The puck appeared to cross the goal line, but the referees waived off the would be tally.
Waterloo flew into the third period with zone time early, but a fortuitous bounce off an official led to a solid cycle by Fargo. Marinov made the save of the game from his behind, blockering a shot away from the net from the stick of Miko Matikka. However, the Force had an onslaught in the offensive zone, which resulted in a power play at 11:50. Marinov continued to stand tall as the Black Hawks had several shorthanded chances, stopped by the Fargo goaltender. Nick Oliver pulled Marinov for the extra attacker at 17:57, and it paid off as Knuble scored in tight off a pass from Owen Mehlenbacher at 18:55. Knuble increased his point streak to four games with the goal. The assist by Mehlenbacher also extended his point streak to four games, and gives him assists in three straight.
In overtime, the Force wasted no time putting pucks on net, as Leo Gruba found Bret Link coming in hot but his shot was squeezed by Croteau at 29 seconds into overtime. Both teams had odd man rushes with Gavyn Thoreson getting a chance that was blocked by Marinov. Schifsky gave Waterloo the win at 4:55 into the five minute overtime, going high glove on Marinov.
Fargo sets up for two home games against the Lincoln Stars next weekend on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. Friday's game starts at 7:05pm CST, while puck drop on Saturday is at 6:05pm CST
