RoughRiders rally to beat Des Moines, 3-2

CEDAR RAPIDS - Their spot in the division is pretty much set. Who they play in the first round of the USHL playoffs is out of their control.

You wonder what the motivation is for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders these last handful of games in the regular season.

“The motivation is to keep improving, keep getting better,” said winger Davey Middleton, who assisted on a pair of goals in the Riders' 3-2 win over Des Moines before 2,514 fans Saturday night at The Stable.

That's right out of head coach Mark Carlson's quotebook.

“There are two points available, and we want to get after those points,” Carlson said. “We want to focus on being at our best every single night. That keeps it simple for us.”

The RoughRiders (24-20-12, 60 points) rebounded from an early two-goal hole to move five points ahead of Team USA for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The teams play Sunday afternoon at 3:05 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, the third game in as many days for the Riders.

Ryan McGrath had goals 47 seconds apart late in the first and early in the second periods to tie it at 2-2, with Ian Brady's power-play marker from the left point 2:15 into the second the difference. McGrath has scored six times in his last five games.

“I credit my teammates first,” McGrath said. “It's not just me that gets them. Most of my goals come from a first shot from a teammate or a pass.”

He's the hot goal scorer right now for Cedar Rapids, with Jake Hildebrand the hot goal stopper. Hildebrand was terrific again in net with 20 saves.

He essentially kept the Riders in it a couple of minutes after Des Moines' second goal, stopping a stone-cold breakaway by Patrick Kirtland. He also made a couple of doozies in the second period after his team had rallied to go ahead.

“I think we're playing pretty good hockey,” Carlson said. “I think the group has really come together. These guys, their team spirit and togetherness, their unity is as good or better than we've seen in a long, long time. I'm excited about that.”

It wasn't all good news as second-year defenseman Greg Amlong missed the last half of the game after incurring a broken collarbone. Forwards Jack Rowe and Tanner Pond remain out of the lineup as well and likely are out the rest of the season.

The RoughRiders wore special blue and white jerseys last night that were auctioned to benefit ALS research. Carlson's father, Robert, died of the disease, and his initials (RLC) were on the crest of the sweaters.

Here is a link to the game boxscore:

http://ushl2011.stats.pointstreak.com/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1660653