Cedar Rapids RoughRiders win 6th straight, another shutout for Ben Blacker

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Ben Blacker is on a roll. So is his hockey team.

Goaltender Blacker made 31 saves for his second shutout in three games, as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders toppled Team USA, 3-0, Saturday night.

The RoughRiders (34-12-3) have won six in a row and increased their United States Hockey League-leading standings point total to 71. They swept the weekend series from the United States National Team Development Program's U-17 team, also winning Friday night, 4-2.

After a scoreless first period, Cedar Rapids put the game away with three second-period goals. Defenseman Jack Ahcan had an unassisted goal at 1:17, with Matt Filipe scoring just 1:08 later, again unassisted.

Ross Colton scored his team-leading 28th goal of the season with 1:26 left in the period.

Blacker took care of the rest. He went 3-0 this week, allowing just two goals to lower his goals against average to 2.20. He has five shutouts this season and leads the USHL with 29 victories.

The RoughRiders play Friday night at Lincoln, then return home to host Dubuque the following night (March 12). Cedar Rapids went into Saturday with a six-point lead on the Fighting Saints for first place in the league and the Eastern Division.

Click on 'Box” icon at top of this post to view the official gamesheet.