Especially special win for RoughRiders

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders came up short big Saturday night.

Don't be confused by the word play. It'll make sense in a minute.

A 6-0 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks before 1,669 fans at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena was especially special. Or especially about special.

Teams, that is. Alec Marsh had a power-play goal and Cal Burke and Casey Jerry short-handers in the second period as the Riders swept the weekend set from their previously undefeated Eastern Conference mate.

Cedar Rapids also got power-play goals from Andrew Oglevie and Burke in the third to move to 3-0-0. Goaltender Ben Blacker made 24 stops for his first USHL shutout.

So it's going to be a 60-0-0 final record, right? That's the most outlandish thing you'll hear, but you've got to like the way this club is playng early.

'We really stuck to our game plan tonight,” said Burke. 'That was the key. We stuck to our systems and were real disciplined. Everyone had the same goal, to get the weekend sweep.”

Marsh scored his first of 2014-15 on the back end of a wrap-around power play 16 seconds into the second. Dylan McLaughlin received a long breakout pass that sprung him with speed down the right side into the Muskegon zone, sliding a backhand pass across the slot to an oncoming Marsh, who beat Muskegon goalie Eric Schierhorn.

A turnover by Muskegon at its blue line set Andrew Gaus free for a short-handed break midway through the period. Schierhorn stopped him, but Gaus regained the puck and slid a pass to Burke for the slam dunk.

In the final minute of the second, Casey Jerry stole a puck near center ice, went in alone and deftly maneuvered a shot through Schierhorn's pads. Adam Gaudette scored his team-leading third goal of the season early in the third, off a nice setup from pinching defenseman Aaron Thow.

Oglevie scored midway through the period for Cedar Rapids' second power-play goal. Burke's second of the night at 13:57 (matching Gaudette's season total) made it 6-0.

'Our PK was absolutely astounding tonight,” Burke said. 'One of our main goals every game is to be 100 percent with it. Obviously that's not always going to happen ... Special teams are such an important part of the game.”

The RoughRiders ended up finishing 3 of 9 on the power play, killing off all four Muskegon attempts.

'Our penalty kill was really good tonight,” said RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson. 'Our power play was not really that good, honestly. We haven't really worked on it much, yet. It'll get better.”

Through three games, nine different guys have scored goals for Cedar Rapids and 17 have at least a point. That means this team is getting something offensively from virtually everyone.

The RoughRiders conclude their four-game season-opening homestand next Saturday against Omaha.

'I think we've been getting better each game,” Carlson said.

FIRST STAR – Ben Blacker (RoughRiders): So many worthy candidates, but 24 saves and first USHL shutout gives the 17-year-old netminder the nod.

SECOND STAR – Cal Burke (RoughRiders): Goals on the power play and short-handed for the winger.

THIRD STAR – Aaron Thow (RoughRiders): An offensive force from the defense position, recording three assists.