Scoring goals continues to be an issue for C.R. RoughRiders

CEDAR RAPIDS — The subject is goals, and it's something the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have had a difficult time grasping so far this season.

They have scored the least in the United States Hockey League, a total that didn't exactly get much of a boost Friday night in a 6-1 loss to Green Bay at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

The Riders have scored a grand total of 39 times in 25 games and been shutout a league-high six times. That's not optimal.

'I just think it's a little bit of everything,' said RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson. 'I don't think it's just the actual goal scoring. I think it's improving our puck movement overall, movement of our defense overall. The better you play defense, the more you can pass the puck. So I think across the board we need to get better at every aspect of the game.'

This is such an unusual thing for the RoughRiders, who always have been known for an up-and-down, exciting, offensive style of hockey. Then, again, nothing about this season has been typical.

That includes their record of 3-20-2. Another home game against Green Bay wraps up the pre-holiday portion of the schedule.

'From breakouts to puck possession and protection, to getting around the net more. It's all those things,' Carlson said. 'I don't think it's any one thing. We've been working on those things all year.'

The RoughRiders' leading individual goal scorer is Zac Robbins, who picked up his sixth Friday night. He has 10 total points.

For perspective, the leading scorer in the league has 27, the leading goal scorer 16.

Part of the reason for the lack of goals is a lack of success on the power play. Cedar Rapids has had 111 opportunities, which ranks second in the USHL, but has been successful on only 11 of those, a 10.1 percent rate that is second to last in the league.

The RoughRiders are on a nasty 0-for-34 streak.

'We've gotten chances. Some nights we haven't,' Carlson said. 'Part of it is the reality that we've got tons of new players. And we also need some people to step up and say 'We want to be in these positions.' I feel like our penalty killers have done that. You look at a guy like Dalton Messina, who has really stepped up to the plate and won faceoffs and killed penalties. We need people to get out and have some juice on the power play, get excited about getting out there and work hard and do the job.'

There is no question there has been a ton of roster movement, but this appears to be a pretty good mix. Things have stabilized defensively for the Riders.

It usually takes more time for offensive improvement.

'Ten of our last 11 games, we've had an opportunity to win,' Carlson said, before Friday's game. 'We've won three of our last six, which you want to do better than that. There was one game where we didn't have a shot, but 10 of the last 11 games, we have been in position to win. So I think there are a lot of good things there.'

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