‘Absolute warriors’ even USHL series

CEDAR RAPIDS - Their task is still daunting, but it doesn't border on the impossible now.

Sam Warning's late second-period power-play goal proved to be the difference as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders evened their USHL Eastern Conference finals playoff series Saturday night with a 2-1 win over the Green Bay Gamblers before 2,857 fans at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The best-of-five series shifts to Wisconsin for Friday night's Game 3, with Game 4 next Sunday afternoon.

“The big thing after our meeting (Friday) night after the game (a 3-2 loss) was to redeem ourselves, per se,” said RoughRiders defenseman Tommy Fallen. “We didn't play that badly, Green Bay's just a great team. It's playoff hockey, and you're going to get the best from your opponent every single game. It's just one game at a time for us. Be absolute warriors and do anything we can to win.”

Nick Saracino gave the Riders their first lead of the series with a goal six minutes in, picking up a loose puck at the side of the net, skating out front and waiting out Green Bay goalie Ryan McKay before shooting the puck past him. Green Bay tied it early in the second on a C.J. Eick goal that came after a possible offsides that wasn't called.

Warning made that insignificant, one-timing a centering pass from Justin Kovacs on a 2-on-1 break with 3:05 left in the second. The RoughRiders made that hold up, limiting Green Bay to 20 shots on goal.

“We were playing hard all night,” said Saracino. “That's about it. We didn't make any big adjustments.”

“I just thought overall we played a better game tonight,” said Riders Coach Mark Carlson.

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