RoughRiders suffer another one-goal loss

By Al Gruwell, Correspondent

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Landon Smith had the goal of the night, but an overtime power-play goal sealed the deal as the Green Bay Gamblers handed the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders their fourth straight loss, 6-5, at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Friday night.

Smith, playing the forechecker on the penalty kill with the Riders in a 2-1 hole, got a turnover, and while prone on the ice, flipped the puck over Gambler goalie Ryan McKay to tie the game, igniting the crowd and his teammates.

Cedar Rapids then got its third special teams goal of the game, a Dylan Gareau redirect of a Preston Hodge shot from the point on the power play, to take a 3-2 lead. Former Rider Peter Maric ignited a flurry of goals by both teams in the third period, backhanding a juicy rebound past Matt McNeely to tie the game at 3. The Gamblers took a 5-3 lead on a goal by Nolan Laporte, but Cedar Rapids answered with two in 20 seconds, capped by a sniper shot from Tanner Pond.

The Riders got on the board first, taking only seven seconds to convert on their first power-play opportunity, with Gerry Mayhew whistling a shot past McKay, the USHL's top goalie, at the 1:56 mark of the first period. Green Bay's Andrew Schilkey answered back at the 5:09 mark, going top shelf on a three-on-one chance.

7:24 into the second period, Green Bay's Schmaltz brothers teamed up to give the Gamblers a 2-1 lead with older brother Jordan feeding the younger Nick, who snapped a wrist shot past McNeely.

Mayhew had two goals and Greg Amlong had two assists for the Riders, who have remained winless in their past nine games out of 10. Cedar Rapids travels to Green Bay to complete their home-and-home series with the Gamblers Saturday at 6 p.m.