RoughRiders remain perfect in shootouts/overtime

CEDAR RAPIDS - The number in the third of four columns in the standings reads ‘0' for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

That's quite miraculous at this point in the United States Hockey League season, if you really think about it.

A 3-2 shootout victory Wednesday night over Des Moines at The Stable means the Riders are still perfect in games that have gone extra time. That's 6 for 6.

In case you don't know, it's wins, losses, overtime losses and points standings-wise, in that order.

'Mental toughness,” Riders Coach Mark Carlson said, when asked why his club has yet to taste the most bitter of hockey defeats.

Goaltender Ryan Larkin stopped all three attempts he saw in the shootout, which made Dylan McLaughlin's successful try hold up. He was the second - and last, as it turned out - Riders shooter.

'Coach always says it comes down to toughness,” said McLaughlin. 'He told us that tonight before the shootout. Larks stood on his head for us, for sure.”

Cedar Rapids (29-12-0) came from two goals down to win and extend its USHL-best standings points total to 58. Adam Gaudette flipped a backhand past Des Moines goalie Ryan Ruck with 1:41 remaining in regulation to extend the game.

The clutch goal came exactly one second after Des Moines (18-14-7, 43 points) killed off a late RoughRiders power play. Erik Foley maneuvered with the puck behind the net and slipped a feed to the crease to an unchecked Gaudette.

'The only time we got into the blue paint tonight,” Carlson said.

Defenseman Charlie Curti's short-handed goal with 6:13 left in the second period got Cedar Rapids on the scoreboard and began what turned out to be a winning rally. Curti, Gaudette and Cal Burke broke free on a unique 3-on-1 short-handed break.

The Riders had to kill off the final 50.1 seconds of overtime while short-handed. Burke took an undisciplined, after-the-whistle cross-checking penalty to give Des Moines a 4-on-3 opportunity.

'We were just worried about getting two points, and that's what we got,” McLaughlin said. 'It was really a big win for us, for sure.”

'We found a way to win,” Carlson said.

The shootout was all Larkin, as he calmly stoned Patrick Grasso, Georgy Gorodetsky and Tanner Karty, in order.

'I face them in practice all the time, so I know we have some of the best shooters around,” Larkin said. 'I know they're going to score. As long as I do my job and stop at least two, I know we'll get the win. I have enough faith in those guys that they're going to do what they need to do.”

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