Muskegon beats RoughRiders in Game 3, 5-1

MUSKEGON, Mich. - So much for the sweep.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders scored early last night in Game 3 of their second-round USHL playoff series against the Muskegon Lumberjacks but were dominated from there, allowing three second-period goals en route to a 5-1 loss.

Cedar Rapids still leads the best-of-5 series, 2-1, and has another chance to close it out Monday night with a Game 4 win at L.C. Walker Arena. A deciding Game 5 would be Wednesday night in Cedar Rapids.

“It's a series,” said RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson. “We were able to win a couple of games, they won tonight. Now it's on to the next game.

“I think our guys kind of got caught up in all the periphery stuff again. People talking about a sweep and all that. We know Muskegon is a very good team.”

This was the antithesis of Friday night's Game 2 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, in which the RoughRiders dominated in a 6-1 win. They outshot Muskegon by a 47-26 margin but got outshot last night by a just-as-decisive 39-26 edge. That included 19-4 in the second period.

Jordan Masters scored with 7:30 left to tie the game at 1-1, then Ryan Misiak put Muskegon on top for good 2:30 later. Matt Berry's goal with two minutes remaining in the period made it three goals for the L-Jacks in 5:48.

That offset Jayson Megna's power-play goal for the Riders 3:19 into the game. He tipped in a shot from Stu Wilson.

“I just thought they competed harder than we did in the second period,” Carlson said.

Charlie Taft and Travis Belohrad scored in the third period for the final margin. The game included a pair of fights, one involving Muskegon's Mike Moran and Cedar Rapids' Tanner Pond that cut Pond.

Pond was with RoughRiders trainer Leo Miller following the game, Carlson said, and the coach did not know how badly he was injured.

Brady Hjelle took the loss in net for Cedar Rapids. Joel Vienneau rebounded from being pulled in the third period Friday night to get the win in goal for Muskegon.