Mehr’s goal early in OT lifts Bloomington past Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in Game 4

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — They were a goal away from moving on in the United States Hockey League playoffs. Now they're back to being a full game away.

And suddenly the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders are a loss away from their season ending.

Alec Mehr scored 1:22 into overtime to give Bloomington a 1-0 win over the Riders in Game 4 of their United States Hockey League playoff series at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

It has come down to hockey's most dramatic event: a deciding Game 5 Tuesday night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. It's win or go home for both clubs.

'It has been a great series, really back and forth,' Mehr said. 'That was unbelievable, one of the best goals I've ever scored.'

Cedar Rapids had a great opportunity to at least clear the puck on the play that led to Mehr's goal. Hugh McGing had possession near the Bloomington blueline, but a collision between him, teammate Ross Colton and a Bloomington player jarred it loose.

Logan Lambdin grabbed it and fed an open Mehr. A stride inside the right faceoff circle, he ripped a wrister that beat RoughRiders goaltender Ben Blacker on the stick side.

The perfectly placed shot appeared to somehow squeak between Blacker's side and arm as he went down into his butterfly.

'I haven't seen the video, but that's certainly what it looked like,' RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson said, when asked if his team should have gotten a clear. 'A turnover, ended up on his stick ... He made a good shot.'

This was a second straight low-scoring game after two high-scoring ones to begin the series. Cedar Rapids had seven goals in the opener, Bloomington seven in Game 2, with the RoughRiders winning Game 3, 3-1, Friday night.

Both Blacker and the Thunder's Hayden Lavigne were terrific in net, particularly Blacker. Bloomington outshot the RoughRiders in every period, including 10-1 in the third.

The final shots on goal margin was 39-21.

'We've got to get to the net more,' Carlson said.

Cedar Rapids did hold Bloomington off the scoresheet on the power play, which was significant. The Thunder had man-advantage goals in the first three games, going a stunning 6 for 9.

The RoughRiders killed off four Bloomington power plays here, including one with four minutes left in the third when Cedar Rapids was called for having too many men on the ice.

'It's the same thing as it's been all season. Try to win the next game,' Carlson said. 'It's been a good series against a good team.'

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