WATERLOO - One issue the Waterloo Black Hawks faced prior to this season was whether or not they had a consistent scorer on the roster.

And, while this season is only three games old, it appears second-year forward Craig Smith might have assumed that role.

Smith scored his third goal in three games, including Sunday's game-winner, as the Black Hawks iced the Green Bay Gamblers, 3-1, at Young Arena.

Smith's second-period goal, off a sweet, back-handed feed from Paul Weisgarber, put the Black Hawks up 2-1 as they dominated the final 40 minutes. Waterloo outshot Green Bay 30-7 in the last two periods and 43-16 for the game.

"The line has been producing a lot of chances, Weisy (Paul Weisgarber) has been playing well, so it is pretty easy to play off their momentum," said Smith, who had eight goals and 10 assists in 45 games as a rookie.

Smith and Weisgarber play on a line centered by Keegan Meuer. All three are second-year players.

"He had a great game," said Black Hawks head coach P.K. O'Handley of Smith. "He's got to continue what he is doing for us to be successful, and he knows that. I thought it was his best game of three for him."

The goal game at the 8:09 mark of the second period, as Waterloo capitalized on a Gamblers turnover at their own blue line.

"We were collapsing down low pretty hard on them, and we created a turnover," explained Smith. "Weisy had a nice back-handed pass to me. I had a chance to bury one, and I buried it."

Green Bay got on the scoreboard first, as Justin Filzen poked home a loose puck that Waterloo netminder Matt DiGirolamo couldn't cover. But the Black Hawks got the equalizer on a power-play with 7 seconds left in the period.

Defenseman Blake Kessel was pinching in on the play, and Weisgarber sent a pass across the mouth of the goal that deflected to Kessel's stick for a wide-open shot.

"The first period … we didn't play as well as we could, but we still played pretty good," said O'Handley. "I thought the second and third periods were very good.

"In the second, I thought our energy was good, our feet movement was good, taking care of the puck was good … there were a lot of areas that were positive."

Scott Pavelski put the game away for the Black Hawks midway through the third period as he scored from point-blank range for his first career USHL goal. Kory Kaunisto and Jan-Mikael Juutilainen assisted.

DiGirolamo was solid in net after allowing the first-period goal, turning away the final 11 shots he faced.

The victory made it a 2-0 weekend for Waterloo, which opened the season with a less-than-pleasing loss at home to Chicago a week earlier.

"We had a rough one the first night, but we had a great win two nights ago, and we were able to build off that," said Smith.

Waterloo is in action Friday at Chicago, before returning home Saturday to host the Tri-City Storm.

300TH WIN: Last weekend's 3-2 win over Tri-City was O'Handley's 300th regular-season victory in the USHL.

It was his 160th in six seasons with the Black Hawks. O'Handley won 140 in seven seasons with the now-defunct North Iowa Huskies.

PRETTY IN PINK: With October serving as Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Black Hawks will use a variety of pink equipment to help raise awareness and funds for cancer charities in the Cedar Valley.

Proceeds from an auction of pink sticks and other items will benefit the Beyond Pink Team.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

Green Bay 1 0 0 - 1

Waterloo 1 1 1 - 3

FIRST PERIOD - 1. Green Bay, Justin Filzen (Phil Ginand, Cameron Burt), 6:51; 2. Waterloo, Blake Kessel (Paul Weisgarber), 19:53, pp. Penalties - Ryan Little, GB (interference), 8:40; Baylor Dieter, GB (cross checking), 13:18; Dieter, GB (interference), 19:00; Dieter, GB (misconduct), 19:53.

SECOND PERIOD - 3. Waterloo, Craig Smith (Keegan Meuer, Weisgarber), 8:09. Penalties - Taylor Johnson, GB (tripping), 11:17; John Lee, Wat (interference), 19:31.

THIRD PERIOD - 4. Waterloo, Scott Pavelski (Kory Kaunisto, Jan-Mikael Juutilainen), 10:24. Penalties - Chris Saracino, GB (tripping), 17:36; Dieter, GB (roughing), 18:11.

SHOTS ON GOAL

Green Bay 9 4 3 - 16

Waterloo 13 19 11 - 43

Goalies - Green Bay, Aaron Crandall (40 saves). Waterloo, Matt DiGirolamo (15 saves).

Referee - Mike McCreary. Linesmen - Aaron Mills, Christopher Allman. Att. - 1,988.