Shootout win gets fist pump from Roughrider coach Carlson

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mark Carlson pulled out the fist pump last night.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach is known for raising his arm (or arms) and shaking his fist (or fists) in celebration of a big victory as he leaves the ice. Guess you know how nice this 5-4 shootout win over Dubuque last night at The Stable really felt.

“That was a little one,” Carlson laughed, when his fist pump was brought up. “The real ones are when I get down on one knee. I almost pop my shoulder out.”

Hey, Coach, this one was definitely fist pump worthy. The RoughRiders (23-7-5, 51 points) rallied from a 3-1 hole, winning the shootout, 3-2, when final shooter Sam Warning's wrist shot beat Dubuque goalie Matt Morris five-hole (through the legs).

The win ended a three-game losing streak and made up - at least somewhat - for Friday night's tough 5-4 overtime loss to Team USA.

“Dubuque is a very good team, and we've played a lot of hockey lately,” Carlson said. “I'm real proud of the effort ... We found a way.:

Former Rider Jordan DiGiando scored late in the first period to give Dubuque (21-8-6, 49 points) a 3-1 lead, but Jayson Megna pounced on a big rebound after an initial Tommy Fallen blast and scored with 12.8 seconds left to cut the deficit and give Cedar Rapids a lot of momentum.

Michael Parks and Nick Saracino scored less than a minute apart early in the second for a 4-3 Cedar Rapids lead, only to have Dubuque's T.J. Schlueter tie it late in the period by batting a puck out of mid-air and past Riders goalie Brady Hjelle. The puck actually bounced off the glass behind the net right into the crease.