Indiana beats Riders in Game 5 in OT, 3-2

CEDAR RAPIDS - Same opponent, same scenario, same building. Same disheartening result.

Anthony Bittetto's wrist shot from near the blue line found its way through traffic and into the net 4:09 into overtime to lift the Indiana Ice to a 3-2 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the deciding Game 5 of this first-round USHL playoff series at The Stable.

Where have you heard this sad, sad song before? The Ice eliminated Cedar Rapids from the playoffs last season in an all-or-nothing Game 5 at the Ice Arena on a goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.

Now this.

“It's indescribable,” said captain Jeff Costello, in a locker room full of tears and stunned faces. “It's a shock mostly. To go out in overtime ... it happened so fast.”

Cedar Rapids rallied from a 2-0 hole to send it to OT. Derek DeBlois tied it with 5:08 left by picking up a loose puck in the slot and ripping a shot past Indiana goaltender Casey DeSmith.

The RoughRiders even had a power play for the final 43 seconds of regulation and 1:17 of overtime but could not get the game winner. That would come back to haunt.

“Indy's got a great penalty kill,” Costello said. “We had some chances, we just couldn't put it in.”

Indiana scored twice within five minutes early in the second period to quiet the crowd of 1,504 and build what looked like a big enough lead. Brian Ferlin expertly tipped a right point shot from Nick Bailen off the crossbar and into the net past Riders goalie Cody Campbell just 39 seconds into the period.

As expected, Campbell got the nod. Troy Grosenick, who started the first four games of this series, injured a knee midway through the first period and had to leave the game.

Cedar Rapids also lost defenseman Mac Bennett and Sam Warning with season-ending injuries in Game 2. Those were factors in a series where the RoughRiders had a 2-0 lead.

“Our team played one heck of a hockey game tonight,” said Riders Coach Mark Carlson. “(They) battled hard, battled adversity, battled player injuries, followed the game plan. We've got guys limping off the ice because they can't get back to the bench after blocking shots. Working, coming back from 2-0 and tying the game.

“Showing character, showing heart, showing team work, leadership and toughness. It comes down to one shot sometimes. And that's hockey.”

Jacob Fallon punched home a loose puck at the side of the net at the 5:33 mark of the second for a two-goal Indiana lead, but Costello got the Riders back into it on the power play just a couple minutes later by taking a puck from below the red line, skating to the side of the net and stuffing one in.

Guys like Costello, Grosenick, Eric Robinson, David Boehm and Zach Lehrke will be greatly missed next season. But there are at least 15 guys who could return next season.

“Guys are going to have to make the team,” Carlson said. “But you would think we would have a very good nucleus.”