Cianfrone's winner caps wild win for RoughRiders

CEDAR RAPIDS – There have been nights this frustrating United States Hockey League season when they may not have gotten the result they deserved.

But they did Saturday night.

Three goals in less than four minutes of the third period rallied the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders past Green Bay, 6-5, in what very well may have been the most exciting home game in a couple of years. Bryson Cianfrone's second goal of the game with 5:37 left sent the 2,916 fans at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena home extremely happy.

"The first two periods we were a little slow," Cianfrone said. "But the third period we came out strong. Finally it was one of those games where we didn't let up in the third. We got the win."

It was a spirited performance for a club that was officially eliminated from the USHL playoff chase the night before. Cedar Rapids had to hang on in the final minute, as Green Bay put on enormous pressure to get the tying goal.

But goalie Chris Birsdall and company held the fort. Birdsall, whose jersey went for $2,600 in a postgame auction to benefit the ALS Association, made some big saves and earned a hug and pat on the head from fired-up head coach Mark Carlson after the final horn sounded.

"The effort in the third period was awesome," Carlson said. "We weren't on our game, I didn't think, the first two periods. But we found a way to come out in the third period to play the way we're capable of and earned the result ... They showed a lot of character, a lot of heart and tremendous unity."

Cianfrone's first goal put Cedar Rapids ahead midway through the second period, 3-2, only to see Green Bay score the next three goals. But David Goodwin started the Riders comeback with a goal from the top of the circle at the 10:38 mark and Corey Petrash tied it two minutes later, converting a tremendous individual effort, rush and pass from teammate Alec Marsh.

Cianfrone hopped on a loose puck at the side of the net for the winner.

"I came off the bench and there was a big scramble in front," Cianfrone said. "I was coming in (to the play) late. The puck just squirted out to the tip of the crease. I just went backhand, forehand."

Ben Gallacher's power-play goal put Green Bay on top 12 minutes in, 1-0, but Clark Kuster tied it for Cedar Rapids (21-29-7, 49 points) on the power play just 1:29 later. The defenseman's 10

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goal was a rising blast straight on from the point that knocked the lid off the water bottle of Green Bay goalie Richard Ullberg.

The water bottle, of course, was on top of the net.

Nick Schmaltz deflated the RoughRiders with a goal in the final minute of the first period for Green Bay, but Cedar Rapids came right back a little less than four minutes into the second with another power-play goal that tied it at 2-2. Dylan Steman pounced on a rebound of an Andrew Poturalski shot from the right of the goal.

That seemed to energize the RoughRiders, who had all sorts of jump and a physical edge to their play, eventually producing another power play that turned successful. This time, Cianfrone did the honors with an in-close shot he seemed to power through Ullberg.

But Green Bay (34-19-3, 71 points) again snatched the momentum, capitalizing on a pair of bad RoughRiders turnovers at their own blue line. Ryan Siroky converted a 2-on-1 pass from Kyle Novak to tie the game at 3-3 at the 12:30 mark, then Ben Greiner scored two minutes later on a breakaway, sprung by a pass from teammate Grigory Dikushin.

The Gamblers added to Birdsall's misery with an Alex Kile goal in the opening minute of the third period on a fat rebound.

"It's really important to finish strong," said Carlson, whose team plays Thursday at Team USA and Friday and Saturday at Youngstown. "These guys have come a long way this year. I love the group. I feel we can beat any team on any given night."

Here is the official gamesheet: